Garden Gnomes and Sphinxes: The Unlikely Heroes of Lawnaments

As I strolled through my yard the other day, I couldn’t help but notice the humble garden ornaments that dot my lawn. They’re a motley crew, to be sure - a few faded gnomes, a weathered stone rabbit, and a sphinx or two. But as I gazed upon them, I couldn’t help but wonder: what secrets do they hold?

A weathered garden gnome, similar to the ones I have in my yard.

It turns out, some garden ornaments are more than just mere decorations. Take, for example, the story of a pair of stone sphinxes that recently sold at auction for a staggering $360,000. The owners, a couple from southeast England, had purchased the statues 15 years ago for a mere $556. They had no idea what they had in their garden, and it wasn’t until they decided to move house that they discovered the true value of their weathered friends.

The stone sphinxes that sold at auction for $360,000.

As it turns out, the statues are genuine ancient Egyptian artifacts, thousands of years old. The auctioneer, James Mander, described the bidding process as “crazy,” with the final sale price exceeding all expectations. It just goes to show that you never know what treasures you might be hiding in your garden.

Ancient Egyptian artifacts, similar to the stone sphinxes that sold at auction.

As I looked at my own garden ornaments, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe and respect for these humble heroes of the lawn. They may not be worth thousands of dollars, but they add a touch of personality and whimsy to my outdoor space. And who knows - maybe one day, I’ll discover that my own gnomes and sphinxes are worth a small fortune.

My own garden ornaments, which may or may not be worth a small fortune.

In the meantime, I’ll just keep enjoying them for what they are - a reminder that even the most mundane objects can hold secrets and surprises.

A final look at my garden ornaments, which may or may not be hiding secrets of their own.