Tag: antique jewelery

Miriam Haskell is a perennial favorite among collectors of vintage costume jewelry. Even a single strand of faux baroque pearls is noteworthy with a Haskell mark, and the more elaborate styles made by this company can indeed bring top dollar. So, who was Miriam Haskell? Many people refer to her as if a single woman crafted every piece of jewelry with her name on it. No one really knows how many pieces she actually produced with her own hands, but the consensus among jewelry historians is not much. ADVERTISEMENTThanks for watching!Visit WebsitePrior interviews with former employees and old-timers in the industry point to Haskell being a businesswoman based in the bustling city of New York first and foremost. And, she did have the good sense to hire a terrific designer to help her grow her company during its early years. Haskell History through the 1960sHaskell hired Frank Hess as a jewelry designer shortly after opening her first shop in the McAlpin Hotel in in the late 1920s. Hess, who had been working for Macy’s as a window dresser, learned the ropes and quickly became the heart of creativity for the firm. Through the 1930s, Miriam Haskell – the business – grew and flourished. Jewelry made by the company was popular both in the United States and abroad. This acceptance was fueled in part by movie stars being photographed in Haskell pieces, and they were also worn in a number of stage and screen productions of the day. ADVERTISEMENTThanks for watching!Visit WebsiteADVERTISEMENTThanks for watching!Visit WebsiteADVERTISEMENTThanks for watching!Visit WebsiteThings rocked along for Miriam Haskell through the 1940s and the business met the challenges of the war years in some truly creative ways. Haskell’s health began to decline, however, and she relinquished control of her business to her brothers in 1950. Hess stayed with the