Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Miriam Haskell vintage pearls

I've been on the hunt for just the right necklace to go with the sweet dress. We've talked about making something so that it would be perfect. I ran across this charming necklace on Bel Canto Designs on Etsy, and was pretty smitten.

It's vintage Miriam Haskell and it's in mint condition. My only worry is that it might be too long to sit exactly where I would like-- it's a 16 inch strand, and I have a 13 inch neck.



What do you think?

Blurb on Miriam Haskell:

BORN IN 1899, AT THE HEIGHT OF THE ART NOUVEAU VANGUARD,
she was one of four children, and the daughter of small-town merchants in Albany, Indiana. Some 30 years later, Miriam Haskell would have tea with Coco Chanel while selecting the upcoming season’s beads at Madame Gripoix’s- the finest source in Paris. While Miriam would bring her young design artist, Frank Hess, Chanel was alone. They would talk. Share ideas. Trade fashion celeb secrets. They were among a new class: independent women who began their careers designing jewelry to complement high fashion clothing in an exclusive boutique.


MIRIAM HASKELL OPENED HER FIRST BOUTIQUE IN 1926, “LE BIJOU DE L’HEURE” IN NEW YORK”S McALPIN HOTEL. She created collections for the society women of her day, the lavish productions of Flo Ziegfeld, as well as the couture of Coco Chanel. Joan Crawford, Lucille Ball, the Dutchess of Windsor, to name a few, were among her greatest patrons. It wasn’t long before her spectacular, custom-made jewels were sought after, collected and cherished. If history is any indication of the value of a Miriam Haskell piece, today’s collection promises continued appreciation- be it at an auction house, by chic women throughout the world or simply by generations to come.