Antiques & Collectibles Crazy4Me - The Modern Bombshell Lifestyle by: Yasmina Greco

Holt-Howard Christmas Collectibles and Price Guide: Starry Eyed Santa

October 27, 2021 By: Fan

Holt-Howard Starry Eyed Santa Collection

Collecting vintage Holt-Howard Christmas ceramics is a great way to enjoy the holidays. It was the Holt-Howard company that first began creating and selling the well-known 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. The Holt-Howard company added many different pieces to their catalog that followed the same quirky and fun designs including Christmas ceramics that are still in high demand today. Follow this guide to collecting Holt-Howard like a pro.

Welcome to the 2021 vintage Christmas collecting series. This is our first post in our series for 2021. If you’d like to review our 2020 six-part guide you can find that here and learn about vintage Christmas collectibles from the 1950s-1960s.

You can’t have Christmas without Santa Claus and there is no Santa as whimsical and charming as the Holt-Howard Starry Eyed Santa line of Christmas ceramics. It’s easy to see why, with his amusing charm, Mid-Century atomic starburst eyes, merry whiskers, and gold flecks, Santa Claus exudes wonderful kitschy cuteness, and many can’t wait to grow their collections with this range. The Starry-Eyed Santa has always been incredibly collectible and highly desired by collectors but this year his popularity has dramatically increased, and prices have skyrocketed.

Holt-Howard Starry Eyed Santa Candle Holder Planter

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Kitschy-Cute Vintage Collectibles

August 8, 2021 By: Fan

Find out what kitschy-cute vintage collectibles are and why they’re so popular and sell for so much money these days. Also, learn about the history of the merchandise and some tips for buying them!

My heart gets so happy looking at these adorable little faces with those big eyes, long eyelashes, and sweet expressions…… welcome to the kitschy-cute world of today’s vintage collectibles.

Vintage Pixieware Kitschy-Cute Menschik Goldman Dolly Girl Collection Set

Kitsch is a term that’s been around for quite some time. It can be described as art or items that are considered to be in poor taste, corny, or overly sentimental. For many people, kitsch has become an insult with negative connotations, and they avoid it at all costs. But there are some who enjoy the warmth and nostalgia of kitschy things from their childhoods. These vintage collectors know what they’re looking for when browsing through flea markets and antique malls. Kitschy collectibles and prices for these items has even spurred a new term in the market referred to as “kitschy-cute”!!

Vintage Kitschy-Cute Enesco Lil Bear Collection Set

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Collecting Holt Howard Pixieware and Whimsical Kitchen Kitsch

July 16, 2021 By: Fan

Yasmina Greco with her Holt-Howard Jam ‘n Jelly Pixieware Jar and matching T-Shirt

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!!

Holt-Howard Relish Jar with Spoofy Spoon 1958

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5 Tips for Collecting Lefton Vintage Bluebirds

May 1, 2021 By: Fan

Yasmina Greco Lefton Bluebirds Topline Import Bluebirds

Today on the blog I am sharing some of my very favorite vintage bluebird collectibles with you all. Back when eBay and Etsy were all the rage for antiques and collectibles I was a PowerSeller (a rating eBay had for their PowerSeller program where sellers needed to consistently sell a significant volume of items and provide a high level of service to their buyers to achieve this rating) and I sold many vintage bluebirds to collectors all over the world. It wasn’t until I came across a bluebird sugar jar from the Topline Imports company that I actually had an emotional reaction. I had listed the sugar jar and it sold within minutes and after a few days I found that I could not stop looking at the pictures I had of the item and that lil’ birdies cute face. I was so sad I sold her. I didn’t start collecting these adorable blue birds till years later and now they are the pride and joy of my collection.

NOTE: You can read about my collections here at Antique Trader Magazine

Topline Import Bluebirds Collection — Topline Imports Bluebirds Collection

Many collectors are drawn to vintage bluebirds because of the cheerfulness they exude. These adorable figurines and dining sets can really brighten your day. Although not much information exists about the Topline Imports company, we do know that they manufactured high quality items in Japan in the 1950s-1960s. My Topline Imports bluebird set is stamped with the numbers 50/154 and they retain their gold foil “Topline Imports, Inc. Japan” tags. It was this set’s sugar jar that stole my heart all those years ago. The set includes a cookie jar, teapot, sugar jar, creamer, salt and pepper shakers, snack plate, and set of 3 wall plaques (mama bird and two babies). I am now on the hunt for the teacup that fits the snack plate and my collection will be complete. The Topline Imports bluebird is my all time favorite.

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Atomic Era Franciscan Starburst Dinnerware for your Table

March 14, 2021 By: Fan

Franciscan Starburst Dinnerware pic from Charleston Gazette-Mail

It all started at the Alameda Point Antiques Faire ( largest open-air antique faire in Northern California with 800+ dealer booths) when we stumbled upon a dealer selling sets of Franciscan Starburst dinnerware and knew the moment had come to add this explosively beautiful pattern to our collection. We had admired the Starburst design for some time as those starbursts just scream atomic era to us, but the moment wasn’t quite right to start our collection until today, and getting to hold the dishes and see the pattern in person was fantastic.

The Starburst pattern was introduced in 1954 and only produced through 1957 by Franciscan Ware. The Atomic Starburst design was futuristic for the time and complemented the chrome appliances and kitchens of the era. The Starburst pattern still oozes that mid-century modern atomic chic and is a standout on our dining table today and I can’t help but sing the famous Frank Sinatra song Fly Me to Moon as I set our table!!

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Norcrest Blue Cat Collection

February 20, 2021 By: Fan

I am really excited to share my vintage Norcrest Blue Cat collection with you all today and share some tips for collecting and finding pieces from this set. The darling kitty cat set has whimsical pieces like a butter dish that has a cute blue kitty cat sleeping on a fluffy pillow, the tea bag holder that says “I Will Hold The Bag” and a pair of oil and vinegar cruets that have cutest little cat faces. This set brings a smile to my face everyday!!

The Norcrest Blue Cat set was manufactured in Japan in the mid to late 1950s and possibly early 1960s by the PY/Miyao company and was sold by Norcrest. The Norcrest Blue Cat set is elusive in some ways to complete as it was not produced in mass quantities in Japan like so many other ceramics of the era. Each piece is usually numbered on the bottom that starts with a “CT” and if you can find a piece that still has its original Norcrest foil label then that makes it even more fabulous. The kitty cat pieces are absolutely adorable and you can see why any collector would rather not part with their collection.

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