Miriam Haskell Costume jewellery
August 15, 2015If you’re searching for perfectly made, good quality costume jewellery to complete your bohemian look for the autumn, then Miriam Haskell Costume jewellery is something worth thinking about.
Miriam Haskell Vintage Costume jewellery
Miriam Haskell Costume jewellery in the 1920s
In fact whether it’s Avant Garde tailoring, shades of red, or professor geek, Haskell costume pieces are perfect for the designs and colours are so varied.
Haskell started her jewellery business in the 1920s after opening a jewellery store in the mid-twenties and a second on in the same year in the same city (New York) went on to work with Frank Hess, who would work with her up until she left the company in 1950.
Miriam Haskell Costume jewellery-for the rich & famous
What’s special about Miriam Haskell Costume jewellery is how detailed and how well made it is.Her jewellery is as much in demand today as it ever was and rightly so.
Along with her creative partner Hess, Haskell made jewellery for the who’s who of Hollywood such as Florenz Ziegfeld of the Follies, Gloria Vanderbilt, Joan Crawford, Lucille Ball and Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor.
She also made pieces for Coco Chanel’s couture collections.She would travel the world to get hold of the best materials, such as Paris, Venice and Gablonz. She also went to the crystal factory, Wattens owned by Daniel Swarovski.
Her pieces are ornate or simple, made with precision, with attention to detail and one thing that was always distinctive in Haskell’s designs was that the base was never seen, that’s how well all her pieces were made.
Prices for Miriam Haskell Costume jewellery
Prices vary for Miriam Haskell’s vintage pieces from £15 to £300 for her necklaces, bracelets, brooches and earrings.
Haskell’s jewellery used beautiful colour combinations with glass beads, baroque pearl beads, flowers and leaves.Haskell also used European refugees to make her jewellery using complex multi-layering of beads, motifs and pearls.
This led to her distinctive costume jewellery line, made so well that you couldn’t see the base work.
In the Second World War
During the great depression and the Second World War, Haskell used cheaper materials to make her jewellery pieces, but later, after the war had ended, went back to using expensive materials such as pearls from Japan.During the war Haskell had made metal free jewellery and natural materials and plastics due to the shortage in materials.
Sadly, Haskell lost control of the company in 1950, passing it on to her brother Joseph. She died in 1981 while living with relatives.
People have often asked whether Frank Hess was responsible for the jewellery designs, while other have argued in Haskell’s defence and that she did indeed create many pieces herself.
What is clear is that Haskell ran a successful business at a time when men dominated fashion along with Chanel, Lanvin and Shiaparelli.
The company has been sold many times and the final time was in 1990 when it was sold to Frank Fialkoff before he partnered with Kenneth Cole Jewellery in 2008.
Miriam Haskell signature
A Miriam Haskell signature was created in the forties with a horseshoe shaped plaque with Miriam’s name embossed into it.
Exactly how many pieces exist with this precise signature is unknown, but are probably rare.If you do find a piece with this unique signature then expect to pay a lot.
However, many of Haskell’s vintage costume jewelry pieces are reasonably priced and today her jewellery is still made using vintage beads and filigrees at the Haskell base.
If you’re looking for something made by Haskell then look online and on the high street at reputable vintage stores and expect to pay anything between £15 and £300.
There’s so much choice, so many colours, shapes, designs that there’s bound to be something that’ll really enhance anything you wear this autumn.
