Featured Always wondered about this art glass bead necklace...

I think the faceted beads with only that "occasional flash of light" as Lucille said, make the whole necklace look more elegant than if they had an overall AB coating. Regarding the foil glass beads, I've given up trying to figure out where they were made, but the interesting combination of colors in the matrix part of the beads combined with the emerald green foil, and then the slightly flattened shape of the beads with the sparkly foiled areas grouped around the perimeter, make them more unique and interesting than any other foil beads I've seen.

I may be going way out on a limb here, but a thought just popped into my mind about the round brass box clasp -- it's the type used on some Miriam Haskell necklaces where the top of the clasp always had beads and/or metal work to coordinate with the rest of the necklace (not all clasps like this were signed). Although Lucille's necklace isn't the typical Haskell style (I haven't seen anything similar in my Cathy Gordon book on Haskell Jewelry or online), who knows.....???? I have a few signed Haskell pieces that don't look like anything I've seen online or in books.

 

@Joan Funny you mention Miriam Haskell. Before you posted I started having the same thought and yesterday even did some googling... tried "Miriam Haskell foil bead necklace". It was the fancy box clasp with the matching glass, plus the overall quality. I didn't find anything just like this connected to Haskell, but she sometimes used foiled glass in her work.

May not be a a match, but sounds like I wasn't so far off thinking that. At least someone else wondered, too.

But have to say... how cool would that be it was Miriam Haskell?

And as for origin, I'm guessing that MH used Japan, Italy, Czech over the years for glass beads.

I'm not selling it, so Haskell or not, it is a keeper.

Still fun to see what folks have come up with bead-wise. Thank you for the help with research, everyone!

 

Very interesting that you thought of Miriam Haskell too -- I guess I wasn't so far out on a limb. If the necklace was mine, I'd keep it with my unsigned Haskell pieces because of the special qualities that distinguish it from other foil glass necklaces.

 

Jivvy - I have that book too, so those are probably the same ones that were ringing a bell for me...

~Cheryl

 

Decided to spend more time searching vintage foil glass beads and realized that most of the examples are Venetian but they don't look like Lucille's. So I agree with Jivvy and Cheryl that Lucille's beads look more like some of the Japanese examples. I don't think foil glass beads were made in Bohemia/Czech at all, but I could be wrong about that. Anyway, I really appreciate this forum for helping me to better understand vintage foil glass beads.

 

Yeah, there is one bead on the page where I thought, "same technique!" and the more I look, the more I think Japanese is the right direction.

And the clasp did remind me of all those 1950s Japanese twist/torsade multi-strand pieces (though few are as nice as Lucille's). I think I used to have this exact one in brown:

https://www.sharonsvintagejewelry.c...ye-microbead-torsade-necklace-vintage-jewelry

 

Thanks, all. Definitely similar clasp in design with a few differences. Size, the one in the link is stamped "Japan", mine is unmarked and seems to be brass on the bottom. Here is one last picture of the clasp.

I agree these beads are likely Japanese. Thanks for all the help and research. I'm still wondering if some company commissioned them, esp as the clasp is not stamped Japan. Just the quantity of graduating beads (30 foil), other made in Japan necklaces I've had with foil beads have had maybe 2-3 on the entire piece. Also the fine little detailing on the clasp, little etched shell petals done in metal.

Well, we know about the beads at least. Still finger's crossed it might be some unsigned designer, but probably will never know. Many thanks!

 

The only named beads I found that fit this bill were "CHERRY BRAND" (some with tags). Per the sometimes apocryphal internet: "Cherry Brand was a group of glass artisans in Osaka, Japan from 1945 to 1952 during the US Occupation of Japan after WWII. Cherry Brand was not a factory. "

If you search on MIRIAM HASKELL CHERRY BRAND, there are any number of sellers asserting Miriam Haskell used Cherry Brand beads.

My Miriam Haskell book/s are in a box. I may have to go digging.

 

Always fun to have an excuse to look at photos of Miriam Haskell. Let me know if you find anything out!

MH definitely used this type of clasp, brass colored backing, silver colored tongue inserts. But seems like in this era, that type of clasp was mostly signed. One other sticking point, I'm not sure she ever did necklaces with links.

In checking around, here is one with a similar style clasp. Not suggesting this is like mine (other than the style of clasp) as it has lots of metal work, etc. A whole different piece, but fun to look at, none the less.

Be sure to click on "view original auction."

https://www.ebay.com/itm/AMAZING-VI...=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

I just did a fairly quick skim through of The Jewels of Miriam Haskell (Deanna Farnetti Cera) and the only place I see this type of construction is on the tail portion of a hook and tail closure.

No mention of CHERRY BRAND in the index of names.

 

Another possibility occurred to me -- Frank Hess was Miriam Haskell's head designer until 1960 when he left and briefly worked for the KRAMER jewelry company where he created their "Amourelle" line (I have an Amourelle necklace, but it's a pendant). I decided to search Amourelle and found a 1960's Amourelle necklace with linked beads and an unsigned decorated box clasp similar to yours (photo below). The matching earrings have the Amourelle signature. I searched online for Amourelle earrings, but didn't see any that match your necklace.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/631988660/rare-amourelle-kramer-necklace-two


I also searched KRAMER necklaces and didn't find anything like yours, but did find a 2-strand choker on ebay that has linked speckled glass beads and faceted crystal beads, which makes me think it's even more likely that Frank Hess designed your necklace when he worked for KRAMER -- maybe even used the same source for your beads as the "MIRIAM HASKELL ART GLASS DROP NECKLACE" which he most likely designed when he was still at the MH company. Anyway, here's the Kramer necklace with linked glass and crystal beads:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-19...503847?hash=item521b30d6e7:g:I20AAOSwsupb6Yzb

 

Probably just Schmootz, but please indulge me, then I’ll go back in my corner.

 

INH, always happy to indulge such a helpful suggestion. Just took a 2nd look. Alas, nothing on there.

Also, Joan: Thank you for the possible Frank Hess connection. The mystery continues!

 

I was totally primed for that to be KRAMER.

 

Thanks for checking, and Here I go....