The Lure of Pixies

June 2023

According to the New World Encyclopedia, Pixies are “mythical creatures of English folklore. First described by Anna Eliza Bray in the early nineteenth century, pixies are considered to be particularly concentrated in the areas of the downs and moors of Devon and Cornwall. Like sprites and other different types of English faeries, pixies are often considered mischievous, but not overtly malevolent creatures of nature. Their most commonly depicted image is a wingless and pointy-eared fairy-esque creature dressed in green.”

So why the allure of collecting miniature Pixies? Likely it’s the same type of draw as those who collect Disney characters, or Marvel Universe action figures: we like the mysterious, the unknown, the enchanted, and the hero with superpowers.

Pixies do have that fun, mischievous allure for us. They began to appear as Dime Store novelties in the 1930s, literally costing a mere 10¢. My collection began with the 3 pieces that were in my grandmother’s curio cabinet which I inherited (the little red pixies sitting on logs). They then began to appear on planters, especially those made by Gilner (California) and Treasure Craft in the 1940s and 1950s. Many of the early pieces were done in green, and yellow and green, but the Dime Store pixies were generally red and white.