There aren’t many kitchen collectibles from the 1950s and 1960s that excite me as much as Pixieware does. From the jam ‘n jelly jars with their little tongues licking the sweet jelly residue from their lips, to the instant coffee pixie jar, relish pixie jar, or the jolly girl set, manufacturers like Holt-Howard, Davar, Lefton, Lipper & Mann, Norcrest, Napco and Menschik Goldman to name a few, displayed creativity at its finest and what thinking outside the box is supposed to be when it comes to dreaming up the colorful creations of the era. Pixieware has been a hot collectible and the enthusiasm continues till this day!!
It was the Holt-Howard company that first began creating and selling the Pixieware collectibles back in 1958. The items were manufactured in Japan for affordability but they were made from high-quality ceramics that were then sold in the US as affordable giftware. It’s hard to believe that these amazing items were only produced for four years. But, Holt-Howard added many different pieces to their catalog that followed the same quirky and fun designs from Christmas items to their popular Red Rooster Coq Rouge, Cozy Kittens line, Jeeves the Butler, and many more. There were many other manufacturers of the era that began to create their own versions of the Holt Howard Pixieware collectibles with slight modifications to their designs but ultimately replicated the Holt Howard pieces. Expect to pay in the $125+ range for Holt-Howard collectibles and there are some very rare and desirable Pixieware jars like the Honey pixie that will set you back $700+, the Mayonnaise pixie at $500+, and the Chili Sauce pixie at $650+. Condition of course is everything so mint condition and items that retain their original boxes will fetch much higher prices.
Some of my favorites are the Holt-Howard hamburger head Pixieware jar, the Cocktail Olives Pixieware jar, the Instant Coffee Pixieware jar, and these adorable Menschik Goldman big-eyed girls. The faces on all these with their individual expressions just put a smile on my face. They really were made to use everyday and add a touch of whimsy to your home.
Tips for Collecting Pixieware
- Check the necks: The necks are incredibly fragile and many may have been reattached with glue so be sure to check for cracks or full breaks.
- The Spoofy Spoons: The Pixieware heads usually have a spoon attached that sits inside the jar. Because these jars were intended for use, the spoons may have been broken off so check for chips and cracks and full breaks on the neck of the spoons.
- Holt-Howard Pixieware jars are usually stamped with the year and manufacturer name along with having a gold foil label.
- Pixieware lids and mismatched bodies: Do your research to ensure your Pixieware jar has the correct lid and jar combo. You’d be surprised how many manufacturers produced jam jars but you don’t always find them with the correct Pixie lid. Usually the color of the stripes on the jar should match a portion of the Pixies head or neck.
- Some sellers will tape the lid to the body of the jar. Be careful when removing the tape because it could remove some of the paint on the jar body. If purchasing via an online platform, ask the seller to use tape that will not remove the paint or better yet, request the lid and jar be packaged separately and this will help ensure damage to your item does not occur.
Pixieware and these anthropomorphic kitchenware items are very collectible today and recently have been making an even bigger comeback so that means prices are on the rise. More common Holt-Howard Pixieware jars are the jam-n-jelly, mustard, and ketchup jars and you can still find these for $65-$85. But be prepared to spend $125+ for others in the series. Some of the other Pixie jars from Davar, Lipper & Mann, and Menschik Goldman will set you back $100+ . These days online platforms like Instagram and Facebook groups are great places to establish relationships with sellers and there are some incredible pieces offered for sale on these platforms, members also post photographs of their collections and many are swoon worthy!! Etsy and Ebay are always good places as well to find these treasures but remember to always do your research on the item (ensure the spoofy spoons are intact, the sellers have good ratings and feedback) so that your item arrives safely and you are happy with your purchase and experience.
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our Holt-Howard Pixieware T-Shirt Charmers for Mid-Century Month!!
Put a little 1950s zing into your wardrobe with our Pixieware t-shirt charmers. These whimsical 1950s-1960s Pixieware characters are so much fun and each has such a unique face. Our first design for mid-century Monday starts with the Relish Pixieware jar that has a diamond shaped head, retro blue face and matching stripes on the jar and it is on a white t-shirt that is very soft and comfortable. Be sure not to miss our other Pixieware charmer t-shirt designs and collect the whole set as they are released this month. You can purchase them at Crazy4MeStyle while sizes remain in stock.
Style with a smile never looked so kitschy cute!!
