Habitat: Obsessions is a ten-part series of visits to the surprising non-art collections of art-world professionals.
“The internet has made it a lot less fun for me—now it’s just a matter of putting a big bid in,” New York photography dealer Janet Borden said, of her pursuit of Pixieware ceramic condiment containers, which were made by the Holt Howard company in the 1950s and ’60s. Before the advent of online auctions, Borden would hunt for items at antique sales and flea markets. She picked up her first Pixieware item—a mayonnaise jar—at a flea market in Lambertville, New Jersey. Borden’s collection now includes a few hundred pieces, most of which live in her Brooklyn home. “I can’t even tell you why I love them,” she said. “They’re just so good-natured and sweet.”
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Some of the collection in Janet Borden's Brooklyn home.
Hors d'oeuvre toothpick holder.
Salt and pepper shakers.
Mayonnaise and jam jars.
Salt and pepper shakers on springs.
Holt Howard cat string holder from 1958.
A chick salt shaker.
A version of this story originally appeared in the Fall 2016 issue of ARTnews on page 58 under the title “Janet Borden: Howard Holt ceramics.”