Florist Bill Hixson’s Flower Barn in Lakewood was a Cleveland institution from its opening in 1959 until Hixson’s death in 2023. The home decor shop, which started as a floral shop and expanded exponentially, was especially associated with Christmas, with its endless variety of ornaments, wreaths and other holiday items in a dizzying array of styles for every taste. Hixson became known internationally for the special ornaments he created for White House Christmas displays during the Reagan, Bush, Clinton and Obama administrations. He contributed to presidential inaugurations and state dinners as well.
When Hixson died, he left the business to his partner Matthias Burke, who is now auctioning off much of the collection, and mulling over plans for a smaller location or pop-up events to keep alive the traditions started by Hixson. Rachel Davis Fine Arts Auctioneers is handling the collection’s sale, taking place Saturday, July 19 at 9:30am. In-person preview will be held at Hixson’s, 14125 Detroit Avenue, on Saturday, July 12, and Tuesday July 15-Friday July 18 from 10am-4pm. The auction itself is online only; preview the catalog at www.racheldavisfinearts.com after July 5th.
The auction will feature more than 25,000 Christmas ornaments, including signed pieces designed for the White House, more than 40 holiday trees with different themes incuding Hixson’s personal tree, and a sixteen-foot Raggedy Ann that has graced the shop since the 60s, and made an appearance in the 1983 holiday film A Christmas Story. There will also be furniture, stained glass windows, chandeliers and porcelain.