Miriam Haskell
(1899-1950)
Miriam Haskell was born on July 1, 1899, in Tell City, Indiana. She attended the University of Chicago but never graduated. In 1924 she opened a gift shop in Manhattan and later Frank Hess joined Haskell as a designer in 1926. By the 1930s, Haskell had
established herself in the industry as the owner of a costume jewelry company with a clientele of society women including Gloria Vanderbilt; movie stars such as Joan Crawford, and Lucille Ball; and royalty such as the Duchess of Windsor.
Haskell used natural gemstones with exquisitely handmade beads from Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Italy, and Russia and incorporated unusual metal findings and stamps to her jewelry. In the 1930s, her affordable art glass, strass, and gold-plated parures were wildly popular, and the company went on to open boutiques in Saks Fifth Avenue and Burdines, as well as stores in Miami and London.
The most striking element of Haskells’s jewelry was the faux baroque pearl; however, during World War II Haskell was forced to use plastics and to purchase more of her beads and crystals from sources closer to home. She introduced patriotic designs to her jewelry to contribute to the war effort. After the war, Haskell renewed her use of luxurious materials and her designs became more colorful and vibrant. They also became more elaborate including larger pieces, and necklaces of multiple bead strands. In the 1950s, Haskell created elaborate necklaces, combining stones, pearls, beads and filigree in new and exciting ways.
In 1950, Haskell was forced to sell the company to her brother Joseph Haskell, due to poor health. Hess continued to design for Haskell until 1960 when he retired. Hess was succeeded by Robert Clark (1960-1968), Peter Raines (1968-1970), Larry Vrba (1970-1978), and Camille Petronzio (1978-present time). In 1990 Sanford Moss who had been the owner of Haskell for the last thirty-two years, sold the company to Frank Fialkoff. Today, the Haskell Company produces M. Haskell, Jewels of Haskell, Haskell, and several private label lines including the JLo line and Christopher Radko’s jewelry. In 2008, they partnered with Kenneth Cole jewelry which is sold in about 1,200 stores.
Miriam Haskell died in Cincinnati on July 14, 1981.
