Miriam Haskell

Haskell was born in 1889 in Cannelton, Indiana. Her parents owned a dry goods store and later a clothing store in Indiana. From 1918 to 1921, she studied education at the University of Chicago but prior to graduating moved to New York in 1924 and opened a costume jewellery shop under her own name at the McAlpin Hotel. Haskell jewelry is distinguished by its use of filigree. She purchased her beads mostly from France and Venice, Italy, while most crystals came from Bohemia. In December of 1924 she opened a second sales outlet on West 57th Street. In 1926 she emplyed Frank Hess, previously a window dresser at Macy's, as her major designer. In 1929 Haskell moved her business to 392 Fifth Avenue where it... more.