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Mid July Book Review by Adrienne Shivers.

Title: Miriam Haskell Jewelry

Author: Cathy Gordon & Sheila Pamfiloff

Published: 2004

General description: Book focuses on Miriam Haskell jewelry through the decades and explores materials used, construction and designs.  



This review will cover several categories and will include a rating for that category 1-10, 1 being 'forget it, 10 being 'must have'. There will also be a short comment about each category and then a general review at the end.  



QUANTITY of PICTURES:

Comments: Lots and lots of pictures, lots and lots of examples, lots of ads too.

Rating: 10.0



QUALITY of PICTURES:

Fronts, backs, sides, all color, all large, all detailed and clear, all gorgeous

Rating: 10.0



QUANTITY of INFORMATION

Comments: The best and most thoroughly researched book I've ever seen. This book not only covers materials used, it covers constructions, dating, designs and also even covers fakes and wannabes. It's extremely specific to the topic, but if you want the definitive reference on Haskell, this is it.

Rating: 10.0



QUALITY of INFORMATION

Comments: Painstakingly accurate, years of research correcting myths, revealing new info. This book is meant to educate and it does a superb job, It is not just a pictorial, but the text and pictures combine to create a text book, a tutorial, if you will, for the study of Haskell work over the past 60-70 years.

Rating: 10.0




VALUES LISTED:

Comments: Values are pretty realistic (even a tad low given a recent upswing in Haskell interest thanks to an antique TV show) as far as RETAIL and replacement values go. If you're looking to use these values to price inventory, make sure you have the client base to support it. Some areas will not get these values, they are based on West coast, urban environment. I have in fact, over the last 6-12 months gotten more than book value on some items. I believe this book has helped with that. Its extremely good for comparison, to see what types of Haskell are worth more than others and why.

Rating: 8.0



USER FRIENDLY

Comments: Laid out very well, by chapter, date and designer

Rating: 10.0




Total average rating: 9.666666666

This is one of my favorite vintage jewelry books ever written. And, I will tell you a story, for those of you who don't really like or get Haskell. There was a time when I didn't either. I just though it was a lot of conservative faux pearl stuff....nothing exciting and what I usually found was in poor condition so I figured it wasn't well made. That's before I got the first book on Haskell, by Cera. I happened to acquire a piece shown in that book (and this one), one of the watercolors. And, it made me spend some time really looking through the book. I couldn't believe all the pictures of glass bead piece I had never seen or had before. All the color, all the detail.....blew me away. That was about 5 years ago, and since then, I've spent a ton of time researching Haskell, learning about Haskell (quite a bit from Cathy well before this book came out) and finding unsigned pieces is now a serious addiction of mine (I'm pretty good at it too).

The beauty of early Haskell is one of those acquired tastes and doesn't really hit until you have the opportunity to hold and study some pieces. But this book will introduce you to, and if you already know, it will expand your love of Haskell. The design, the execution, the materials used are just amazing. This book will help you be able to distinguish 'Haskell-like' from real Haskell, there is no comparison, once you see what the company really did.

Some people think it's pricey.....not me. I think the $60.00 is well worth it, not just for the pleasure of looking at all the jewelry but for the invaluable research. If you are serious about collecting and/or selling vintage jewelry, this book is a must have.
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