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If you are someone who has ever sought out that old cigar box filled with baubles and trinkets at a garage sale, eager to dive in, or a person who has spent countless hours carefully wiring vintage-looking elements onto a filigree backing in order to recreate your favorite brooch of a bygone era, chances are you have heard of Miriam Haskell. She was, after all, the Fairy Godmother of costume jewelry.
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| vintage Miriam Haskell ad from 1946 |
Along with the help of her creative partner, Frank Hess, Haskell created a company which made beautiful, unique, and affordable pieces of costume jewelry. Remarkably, she started this successful endeavor during the Great Depression. She was extremely popular with the well to do, such as The Duchess of Windsor, and it is said that actress Joan Crawford owned every Miriam Haskell jewelry set that she could get her hands on.
With precious metal prices being what they are, many people are returning to costume jewelry as a luxe-for-less way to accessorize. When I am designing, more often than not I am heavily influenced by the lovely pieces that my mother had in her jewelry box, handed down from her mother.
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| Miriam Haskell, old and new designs (source) |
Haskell's pieces from the height of her popularity are highly sought after collectibles today, commanding very high prices. Although Haskell herself was only active from the 1920's through the 1950's, the company bearing her name still exists today, making unique handmade heirloom pieces for everyone to enjoy for years to come.
Are you a Haskellite? Show us your favorite vintage costume jewelry designs!
-Andrea
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