The mid century makers got their start with Christmas ceramic housewares. Learn more about how to collect vintage Holt-Howard Christmas wares.
When it comes to Christmases past, no mid century collectible seems more appropriate than Holt-Howard’s ceramics. Named after founders Grant Holt and Robert Howard, the company got its start with Christmas items in New York City in 1949, from winking Santa mugs to angel candleholders and even Christmas planters. Their playful designs quickly earned them success, and the business expanded and relocated to Stamford, Connecticut, in 1959.
They changed certain Christmas designs each year and their product lines were meant to be collectible. One of their other enduring lines outside of Christmas was Pixieware, which includes shakers, cruets and other kitchenalia with cartoonish pixie heads.
By 1969, Holt-Howard was bought out by General Housewares Corporation but still produced items with their signature stacked capital “HH” until 1979. By 1990, their pieces went out of production.
With their heyday in the mid-century, the retro and bright happy-go-lucky designs are favorites of vintage collectors, fetching anywhere from $5 to $200 (or more) depending on the item. If you love their designs, Holt-Howard’s products are a treasure trove of atomic whimsy. Look for two black H’s stacked on top of one another along with the year of production in black on the bottom. Some items were made in Japan; these will have a label saying “Japan.”
Some of the rarer specimens include the Pixieware line (expect to pay between $50 to upwards of $400 even for small tabletop items like jam pots and serving spoons). In the Christmas line, the atomic Starry-Eyed Santas are the most sought after—a complete set of mugs could fetch $250, but the line included everything from dishes to candleholders.
Care Basics
Store these collectibles somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight, which may cause the ceramic to crack. For that reason—even for mugs—avoid filling them with anything extremely hot or cold. Do not put them in your dishwasher; instead, handwash with five parts lukewarm water and 1 part ammonia, and do not use anything abrasive.
For more mid century Christmas collectibles, check out All About Aluminum Christmas Trees and Shiny Brites 101: A Beginner’s Guide to the Vintage Ornaments. And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more Atomic Ranch articles and ideas!
