It is important to clean these clay Tom Clark gnomes to make sure that they are more durable and their worth remains constant. Most of these gnomes have a special paint color-scheme and it is probably a few decades old so it is imperative that no harsh chemicals and rigid brushes are used to clean these figurines.

Take a soft makeup brush or a new paint brush to dust off your gnome and use a sink to rinse off dirt and pat dry with a towel.

If the gnome was placed outside and is covered in soil, then fill your sink with 5cm of lukewarm water and add a few drops of soap. Let your gnome soak for a while and you can add a towel under to avoid scratching or breaking it. If there are some stains or dirt then use a cotton pad or a microfiber towel to gently rub it off.

Once your gnome is clean make sure to pat dry it with either a napkin or a towel to conserve the paint well. Repainting these gnomes does not lower the value but it damages the integrity of the original piece.

Tom Clark’s pieces have been commissioned by many businesses across the world. His very successful career spread a deep love and appreciation for gnomes. His approach to personalising figurines allowed people to grow attached to them and gave a warm vibe to people’s homes.

Can Tom Clark Gnomes go Outside?

The gnomes that are coated with a UV protective agent to be used for outdoor purposes can often end up being old and prized by collectors, who want the integrity of their collectible. They’re typically kept in glass cabinets within your household!

This protects them from dust, soil, rain and humidity so that the gnome paint can last for a longer time. Dr. Clark has often said that if people want to keep them outdoors then it is important to switch them between inside and outside. Cairn Studios made hand cast gnomes in resin or bronze and then hand painted them but the artist opted out and stuck to clay. If you want to maintain the value of these collector items, it is better to keep it indoors.