Someone is looking after you… 

These little glass gnomes make great gifts and provide a vigilant eye and joyful spark no matter the season. The Tomte is a joyful reminder that you are in good company.

The Legend of Tomte: A Tomte (or tomtar, plural) is an essential part of Nordic folklore. They're mischievous but devoted gnomes who have tasked themselves with the protection of a homestead - especially the children and animals. Originally it was thought that the Tomte was the ancestral spirit of the first farmer to own a plot of land (tomt in Swedish). Even though they are loyal caretakers, they may also cause trouble if the house or farm isn't run to their liking...

It's nice to know that someone’s looking out for you.

Sold individually. Each tomte measures 3.5-4 inches tall. Handcrafted in small batches in Burlington, Vermont.

Available in 5 colors: Amber - yellow, Ash - gray, Cheer - dark red, Spruce - dark green, Storm - steel blue.

From the maker:

Rich Arentzen and Tove Ohlander are the co-founders of AO Glass. They took very different paths to mastering the art of glassblowing—but when they joined forces, sparks (and molten glass) flew. Together, they built a vibrant, one-of-a-kind glass factory-studio in Burlington, Vermont’s South End—a place as dynamic and colorful as the work they create. Their story began back in 1994 at Sweden’s legendary National School of Glass in Orrefors, where they bonded over their shared love of fire, form, and Scandinavian fika. By 1998, they’d fired up their first studio near Oslo, Norway. The pull of Burlington’s creative energy eventually lured them across the Atlantic, and in 2007 they founded AO Glass—a hotspot where craftsmanship meets community.

Their two glass traditions and aesthetics - Swedish and Italian-American - come together in a complementary way.