Miriam Haskell

Vintage Costume Jewelry: Everything Old is New Again

Jewelry, whether fine or costume, has been a part of human culture since the earliest times. People wear jewelry to satisfy their vanity, to indulge their love for beautiful things, and to look good to others. Vintage costume jewelry fulfills all these criteria, but at a fraction of the cost of real or fine jewelry. It is an inexpensive alternative that does not sacrifice taste as well as style.

Vintage costume jewelry may be less expensive, but good quality ones are never seen as cheap. They are less costly because they are not made from precious gems. Designers of vintage costume jewelry use a variety of materials from cut glass, beads, semi-precious gems, faux gems — even plastic! These pieces were created and released since the start of the Victorian era up to the 1960s. Vintage costume jewelry from the 1940s and 1950s are especially creative and eye-catching, since the designers of the era had to produce relatively inexpensive yet fashionable items that men and women could afford and appreciate during the war and post-war era.

Some of the most popular designers of vintage costume jewelry were fashion guru Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli and Miriam Haskell. Many of Schiaparelli’s bright and attractive creations were made from multi-colored rhinestones. Haskell, in her finely detailed work, almost always paid tribute to nature’s beauty and bounty. Chanel, the favorite of many celebrities, transformed the way costume jewelry was worn in the 1920s. Other pieces of vintage costume jewelry were made from materials that included beads, corals, faux pearls, and Bakelite — a kind of polymeric plastic.

Vintage costume jewelry continues to be very much in vogue today, and it has inspired many designers to create ‘real’ pieces made from precious gems and metals. At the 2005 Academy Awards, the jewelry that many women celebrities wore were oversized and sparkly, a tribute to the jewelry designs of the 1940s. Stars such as Madonna, Britney Spears, and Julia Roberts are not only collectors of vintage costume jewelry and dress accessories; they actually wear them in public, too.

A person does not have to be a celebrity to appreciate vintage costume jewelry. Their uniqueness, aesthetic value and superb craftsmanship make them popular collectible items, and with proper care, they can be a good investment, too, since serious collectors will pay top dollar for vintage costume jewelry that is in mint condition. But more than that, the experience of owning and wearing a thing of beauty that comes from a bygone era is simply priceless.

About the Author

To learn about fire eel, firefish goby and other information, visit the Interesting Animals website.

miriam haskell. jewelry designs?

how can i find info about this designer of costume jewelry?

thebeadingpath.com has a full article on how she started and all about some of her works of arts

Miriam Haskell Vintage Jewelry

SIGNED:MIRIAM HASKELL*DOUBLE FLORAL CAMEO WHITE MILKGLASS NECKLACE,PRISTINE,VTG $149.00

Miriam Haskell 3 Strand Baroque Pearl Bracelet w/Floral Clasp $160.00

Fabulous Miriam Haskell Pink Art Glass & Baroque Pearl Necklace Earring Set $240.00

Early Miriam Haskell Dripping Art Glass & Book Chain Statement Necklace $475.00

Miriam Haskell Earrings Citrine vintage 60′s $65.00

Vtg. Miriam Haskell (Signed) Large Rhinestone & Baroque Pearl Ring; Collectible $495.00

SIGNED MIRIAM HASKELL & PATENT 3427691 BAROQUE GLASS PEARL NECKLACE VTG JEWELRY $42.50

Miriam Haskell Faux Baroque Pearl Link Necklace 58 in. $1,000.00

WOW VTG MIRIAM HASKELL ? PINK GLASS FLOWER NECKLACE W WHITE BEAD JEWELRY UNSIGN $67.00

Estate Sale Find Miriam Haskell Necklace Bracelet Demi Parure Orange White Glass $299.99

Miriam Haskell Vintage Bead Cap Filigree Brass Finding $3.99

Miriam Haskell Style SET Baroque Pearl Gilt Gold Plate Necklace Lariat–Earrings $20.50

One Miriam Haskell Vintage Floral Emboss Brass Finding $7.99

Vintage WWII Era Unsigned Miriam Haskell Mocha Glass Lampshade Design Fur Clip $71.99

Fabulous Vintage Miriam Haskell Sapphire Rhinestone Adjustable Clip Earrings $29.99

A Woman Obsessed [VHS] $14.99 …

Hidden Treasures – Signed Costume Jewelry Volume 2 $30.00 This part of the Hidden Treasures series continues exploring the history and jewelry designs of more of the leading manufacturers and designers….

Miriam Haskell Jewelry $37.79 Miriam Haskell began selling especially beautiful costume jewelry in 1926, and her company continues to the present. Today, the jewelry that bears her name is highly sought after and the prices keep spiraling up. Claims abound that this is a Miriam Haskell, but is it a Miriam Haskell? This important new book gives collectors the key information to make intelligent buying decisions. It provides spe…

Hattie Carnegie Jewelry: Her Life And Legacy $21.86 Hattie Carnegie’s life story surpasses that of Cinderella in that it is true. Born in 1886, she went from being a destitute Macy’s messenger girl who owned three blouses and one skirt to controlling, at its high point, a ten-million-dollar empire. Her five companies included custom and ready-to-wear clothing, hats, perfume, and fabulous costume jewelry. For decades, her personal taste and fashion …

Costume Jewelry: The Jewels of Miriam Haskell $49.50 Devoted to the story of Miriam Haskell, one of America’s most distinguished fashion jewellers, this text includes over 200 examples such as bracelets, necklaces, brooches, earrings and parures from significant European and American collections which illustrate the styles of the small number of designers who were associated with the House. This is a work which should be of reference for collectors …