Pardner Story

Item #2008

Special Commission

(June, 1985) Pardner was created for Christmas Time, a store in Aurora, Colorado. Pardner is kneeling on aspen leaves with columbines at his feet, and is Colorado’s native Gnome. Happy at work silver mining, he has paused to show us high-grade ore samples from Central City and Silver Plume. He is a traditional Gnome wearing a blue shirt and red hat (bent slightly due to the closeness of the mines). He is carrying his carbide lantern and, of course, a red hankie in his pocket. His lucky coin, a quarter eagle ($2.50 gold piece) was minted in 1876 when Colorado became a state, and can be found on the base along with an Indian arrowhead and several pine cones.

Dr. Thomas F. Clark