Icelandic Yule Lad - Doorway Sniffer - The Icelandic Store

Yule Lad no. 11 of 13

Icelandic Yule Lad - Doorway Sniffer

Name: Icelandic Yule Lad - Doorway Sniffer
Brand: Penninn
SKU: YULE000017
Price: 38.90 USD
Availability: InStock

Gáttaþefur, the Doorway Sniffer · hand-painted figure designed by Brian Pilkington · about 11.5 cm (4.5 in)

$38.90

For the house where Christmas begins with baking. Gáttaþefur follows the smell of laufabrauð and cakes to the kitchen door, and this figure has him mid-sniff: eyes shut, nose up, hands still empty.

What the figure shows

Leaning forward on bent knees, eyes closed, his big nose in the air and his arms out for balance
Shaggy dark-red waistcoat over striped sleeves, blue-grey breeches and tan leggings
Both hands empty: he has smelled the cakes but not reached them yet
GÁTTAÞEFUR in gold on the red base, spelled with the Icelandic letter Þ

Same-day dispatch* Weekday orders before 14:00 UTC leave Iceland the same day 4.9/5 from 2,200+ verified reviews Google 4.8 Trustpilot 4.6 Judge.me 4.9

Any four Yule Lads ship free to the US, Canada and Europe (orders over $149)

Free shipping over $149 — US, Canada & Europe
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“My wife is Icelandic, We have been collecting since we went to Iceland. They great to share with grandchildren and a show them different culture. L...”

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Popular together

The family he comes down the mountain with

Yule Lads Figures - Set of all 16

Nose up, eyes shut, on the scent of baking
A Brian Pilkington design, painted by hand
Booklet in English with each Lad's story

Description

Gáttaþefur, the Doorway Sniffer, is the eleventh of Iceland's thirteen Yule Lads and comes to town on 22 December. The National Museum of Iceland says he is easily recognised by his huge nose, and that he loved the smell of cakes and laufabrauð, the Christmas lace bread, and tried to steal one or two.

Brian Pilkington's hand-painted figure shows him leaning forward with his eyes closed and his nose in the air, in a shaggy dark-red waistcoat and striped sleeves. About 11.5 cm (4.5 in) tall, in a window box with a small English booklet about the Yule Lads.

A display figure, not a toy. Also in the set of all 16 figures.

Product facts

Character: Gáttaþefur (Doorway Sniffer, also Door Sniffer), the eleventh of the thirteen Icelandic Yule Lads
Comes to town: 22 December
Height: about 11.5 cm (4.5 in)
Design: Brian Pilkington
Brand: Sólarfilma
Finish: painted by hand; shades can differ a little from the photos
In the box: the figure in a clear window box, with a small booklet in English about the 13 Yule Lads, Grýla, Leppalúði and the Yule Cat
Good to know: a display figure, not a toy
EAN: 5690666388113

Shipping, duties & returns

Shipping — DHL Express worldwide, fully tracked. Rates & times

US & Canada duties — collected at checkout; nothing to pay on delivery. How it works

Returns — unused items in original condition within 30 days; see our returns policy.

Icelandic Yule Lad - Doorway Sniffer

$38.90

Why you'll love it

The nose that finds the bakingThe National Museum of Iceland says you can recognise him by his huge nose. The publisher's note has him sniffing at kitchen doors, drawing in the smell of the Christmas baking.
The day children could not waitHe comes on 22 December. Vísindavefurinn, Iceland's science website, notes that the day was sometimes called hlakkandi, because by then the children were looking forward to Christmas so much.
An artist who came for a monthBrian Pilkington arrived from Liverpool in 1976 to visit a friend and stayed. He went on to illustrate Iceland's trolls and, in 2001, The Yule Lads, and he designed this figure.
Collected to pass the stories onAll four reviews give five stars. One reviewer, married to an Icelander, has collected the figures since a trip to Iceland and shares them with the grandchildren.
Each Lad's story, in the boxA small booklet in English comes with him. It covers the thirteen brothers, Grýla, Leppalúði and the Yule Cat.

Popular together

Made to be used together. One click adds both to your cart.

The family he comes down the mountain with
Gáttaþefur is one of sixteen figures. The set has all thirteen brothers, Grýla, Leppalúði and the Yule Cat, for less than the figures cost singly.
Icelandic Yule Lad - Doorway Sniffer Yule Lads Figures - Set of all 16

$588.90 for both

Family-owned since 2013Run by two brothers in Iceland

2,600+ verified reviewsRated 4.9 out of 5

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Authentic Icelandic goodsPacked and shipped from Iceland

Questions people ask before they buy

What is laufabrauð?

An Icelandic Christmas bread, called lace bread or leaf bread in English. The National Museum of Iceland says Gáttaþefur loved the smell of it and of cakes being made for Christmas, and always tried to steal one or two.

Is he Door Sniffer or Doorway Sniffer?

Both names are used for the same Lad. The National Museum of Iceland's current programme calls him Doorway Sniffer; its older pages said Door Sniffer. The base of the figure gives only the Icelandic.

How big is the figure?

About 11.5 cm (4.5 in) tall according to the publisher. He stands on his own round base and needs no propping up.

Is he a toy?

No. Gáttaþefur is a painted figure for display. He does well as something for children to look at while they hear the story, less well in a toy box.

What does it cost to send one figure?

Shipping is worked out at checkout from your address. For one small figure it is a noticeable part of the total, and you should know that before you get there. Orders over $149 ship free to the US, Canada and Europe.

Are duties added on delivery?

Not for the US or Canada, where duties and taxes are settled at checkout. In other countries the carrier may collect local import charges.