Miriam Haskell Mark on Costume Jewelry

by Dr. Lori Verderame

Miriam Haskell designed costume jewelry highlighted natural looking forms and quality materials. Working in the fashion field by 1925, Miriam Haskell’s costume jewelry is known for its interesting designs, high quality electroplating, good quality plastics, and bead work. Haskell pieces regularly were adorned with European beads and Bohemian crystals.

When it comes to electroplating metal, the process employs an electrical charge and a salt bath. Electroplating results in a fine coating of precious metal over another material using an electro-chemical reaction. The process takes place as a negative charge is placed on an object that will be coated. The negative salt ions were positively charged and attract the negatively charged object. Then, the positive charged ions revert back to their metallic form and make a new electroplated object, in this case, the jewelry setting.

Miriam Haskell jewelry

Haskell and her firm achieved widespread market success with very colorful and elaborate pieces after World War II and throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The tell tale “Miriam Haskell” mark is easy to find on most pieces. Look on the clasp, pin back, or other area of Haskell jewelry to confirm its origin.

Brief History

Miriam Haskell and lead designer, Frank Hess reintroduced natural forms to a society interested in the machine aesthetic of the Art Deco period. Working commercially by 1925, Miriam Haskell jewelry is known for its interesting designs and quality electroplating and beadwork. European beads and Bohemian crystals were the norm for Haskell. The Haskell firm was one of the first to incorporate plastics in an innovative way when it came to jewelry design.

Colorful and elaborate pieces were introduced after World War II and through the 1960s when Haskell and her firm achieved widespread market success. The mark “Miriam Haskell” can be easily found on a clasp, pin back, or other area of her jewelry pieces making the firm’s pieces unmistakable. The Miriam Haskell company, after decades of production of some of the finest costume jewelry, was sold in 1990.

What to Look For

Famed Miriam Haskell costume jewelry pieces are defined by colorful stones, gold filigree work, and seed pearls. Most of the electroplating by the Haskell firm is of high quality and then antiqued. Haskell offered nature-inspired forms via look-alike baroque pearls, glass seed pods, and shells. Miriam Haskell costume jewelry pieces are also recognizable by the firm’s use of colorful stones, gold filigree work, and shells.  Electroplating was completed to high standards. Traditional Haskell designs demonstrated nature-inspired forms and faux baroque pearls, glass seed pods, and other composite details.

How to Avoid Damage

Remember, many of the materials used in the design of costume jewelry may be fragile, so don’t dump your costume jewelry pieces all in one drawer or jewelry box. The weight of jewelry pieces can damage delicate seed pearls or break the pin backs on brooches. Give each bracelet, necklace, or earring pair their own area in your jewelry box. Don’t use commercial jewelry cleaners on your costume pieces since the chemicals may damage the faux stones, plated metals, and other elements of these fragile pieces.

Sales Records

Some pieces featuring mummies, sphinxes, and scarab forms recalled ancient Egyptian jewelry during the Egyptomania craze following the excavation of King Tut’s tomb. Circa 1950s Haskell pieces with rhinestones range from $150 to $350.

A milk glass and crystal rhinestone bracelet by Haskell recently sold for $400 with an organic design featuring veined milk glass and leaf motif. Some specialty pieces by Haskell command several hundreds of dollars each. Some pieces featuring mummies, sphinxes, and scarab forms which recall the themes and motifs of ancient Egyptian jewelry command high values now. During the Egyptomania craze in the early 1900s shortly after King Tut’s tomb was exhumed in 1922, many costume jewelry designers looked to the ancient world for inspiration. Today, Haskell pieces from the 1950s and 1960s with rhinestones and other faux gemstons command $250 to $650. And, a milk glass and crystal rhinestone bracelet by Haskell recently sold for $400 with an organic design featuring veined milk glass and a leaf motif. Some specialty pieces by Haskell command several hundreds of dollars each.

So, before you throw away that strand of faux pearls or plastic brooch, think again. While diamonds are a girl’s best friend, vintage costume jewelry is the cat’s meow!

Miriam Haskell mark

Get an online appraisal of your Miriam Haskell piece of costume jewelry from Dr. Lori.