Vintage yet stunning CROWN TRIFARI rhodium-plated (brilliant silver color) over a base metal feather (or leaf frond) brooch pin and clip-back earring set with graduated simulated pearls. (c. 1956) Pristine condition!
The Trifari jewelry history was unique in that it was a out side designer by the name of Alfred Philippe that lead it to greatness. Trifari was first known as "Trifari and Trifari", founded by Gustavo Trifari and his uncle in 1910. When Gustavo's uncle left a couple of years later the company was known as just Trifari. Leo Krussman joined Trifari in 1917 and in 1925, Carl Fishel joined the company as head of sales. They renamed the company Trifari, Krussman and Fishel and their hallmark became KTF. The T in the stamp was in the center as was a custom at the time for the senior or more important name. The company remained stagnant for lack of good designers and the crash of the stock market in 1929.
In early 1930 Afred Philippe came on board as head designer for Trifari. A premier designer who worked in fine jewelry for such firms as Cartier and Van Cleef & Arples, who during the depression no longer had the freedom to create the designs that so inspired him because of the economical times. Philippe almost turned the company 180 degrees with in a few short years. His designs in the Art Deco period became very popular and his freedom to work with the less expensive materials in costume jewelry gave him the inspiration to create the large flower pins and the jewelry now known as fruit salad jewelry.
The Trifari brooch pin measures 2" wide by 2" long. The matching clip-back earrings measures 7/8" long x 1/2" wide. All are properly marked on the backs with a "crown" over TRIFARI.
A2444 - Vintage CROWN TRIFARI Rhodium Silver & Pearls Feather Brooch Pin & Earrings Set
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