With unsigned Haskell, it is important to remember that the backs are as important as the fronts. This album shows a variety of examples of necklace clasps from her unsigned period to the present. An interesting item of note is that I have not been able to find a single unsigned necklace that uses a hook. Love to see any examples that others have found.
Date(s): October 22, 2002. Album by Cathy Gordon. Photos by Cathy Gordon. 1 - 35 of 35 Total. 26037 Visits.
1 Early Haskell necklace "clasp" of silk cord ending with glass beads, and made to be tied around the neck, c. 1935. From Cera, The Jewels of Miriam Haskell, p. 71.
2 Elaborate gilt metal slide clasp of flowers and leaves from second half of the 1930s. Unsigned Haskell.
3 Back of slide clasp.
4 Slide clasp of a gilt metal lily leaf topped with a flattened glass bead, c. mid-1930s. Unsigned Haskell.
5 Back of slide clasp showing pierced metal mesh and wiring. I used to think that the metal top plate was missing but have found a number of examples without it, so believe that the clasp was made this way.
6 Floral silver-tone metal slide clasp, c. mid 1930s. Unsigned Haskell.
7 Spring ring clasp, showing typical configuration without the "thumb-thingy," c. mid 1930s. Unsigned Haskell.
8 Another example of the spring ring clasp. Note the chain configuration--a common style used by Haskell. Unsigned Haskell.
9 Slide clasp of dark gold-tone metal. The necklace was purchased in Paris in the mid 1930s. Unsigned Haskell.
10 Delicate silver-tone clasp that holds up quite an elaborate two-tier pearl necklace. Probably from the 1940s. Unsigned Haskell.
11 Slide clasp showing a lovely filigree topped with a flattened vaseline glass flower, c. 1930s. Unsigned Haskell.
12 Back of clasp showing metal plate covering wiring.
13 Clasp of silk cord and gold-tone beads c 1941. From Cera, The Jewels of Miriam Haskell, p 78.
14 An early necklace clasp, looking handmade, made of twisted wire. Probably from WWII based on a matching clip. Unsigned Haskell.
15 Spring ring clasp from a WWII-era necklace. Design elements on the necklace are mounted on pierced plastic. End-caps are a typical Haskell style, but are also found on Czech jewelry. Unsigned Haskell.
16 Slide clasp of silver-tone metal, gilt flowers and rhinestones. Necklace was shown in a 1947 ad. Unsigned Haskell.
17 Slide clasp from a 1949 bow necklace dated from an ad, which interestingly, is not signed. Unsigned Haskell.
18 Slide clasp from an elaborately beaded necklace. No signature, but the bracelet has a hang-tag. Unsigned Haskell.
19 Two dove clasps. The top is on a Haskell necklace but is incorrect (or perhaps was a prototype) and the bottom shows the normal dove configuration. According to Millie Petronzio, the lower dove was used into the 1970s. You will also find it used as decoration on pins.
20 An unsigned hook with the flower design and showing a Haskell hangtag. Probably a transitional piece from the period 1950-1952 when Haskell was just starting to use the oval tag as the necklace looks early. Signed Haskell.
21 View of unsigned hook from the side.
22 View of unsigned hook from the top.
23 Example of signed hook showing flower. Interesting gilt metal floral end caps and lovely green melon beads. I have heard that all Haskell necklaces with a hook end with five beads, but this is not consistent. Millie told me that the hooks were started in the early 1950s as women demanded more length than the slide-clasp type necklaces allowed. Signed Haskell.
24 Another example of a hook clasp, showing typical filigree end-caps. Note that there are seven beads on the extender. Signed Haskell.
25 THIS IS NOT A HASKELL
While this necklace is signed in two places (hook and filigree back), after some up-close-and-personal viewing I believe it is a put-together.
The necklace gathers and the necklace construction are much more typical of Jonne jewelry.
26 Haskell turtle clasp used during the 1950s and 1960s. This clasp wasn't used very often as its size made the necklace difficult to hook. I have seen the turtle used on stickpins, but this is the first clasp I have found. Signed Haskell.
27 Back of turtle clasp showing Miriam Haskell signature on the hook. Courtesy of Cheri van Hoover, Milky Way Jewels. http://www.milkywayjewels.com
28 Pink bead necklace with an incorrect hook, undoubtedly a replacement. Necklace is signed Haskell on a plaque on its center decoration.
29 Clasp with patent number 3,427,691 dating it to 1969. Used on both necklaces and bracelets, according to Larry Vrba, Haskell started using this clasp in 1975. There is a small slide mechanism that opens when pressure is applied. Picture is from an eBay auction.
30 Another example of the 1969 clasp. Note both this and the former necklace have a hang tag, though the clasp itself is signed Miriam Haskell.
31 Clasp from an Egyptian collar dated 1972. Clasp is signed Miriam Haskell on the back with raised letters.
32 In the research we did for our book, we found NO examples of unsigned Haskell necklaces with a hook and tail construction. This necklace is attributed to Haskell by Cera pg 80 dated to the late 1930s, but I believe that this is a Josef Morton necklace.
