A Look At Trifari Costume Jewelry~Part 2

Let's look at some characteristics of Trifari costume jewelry from the 1930s to the '50s.
From 1937 to at least the 1950s, Trifari's premier designer was Alfred Phillipe. Popular brooch designs were geometrics, florals, leaves and berries, animals and people. Colored and clear rhinestones were set in intricate patterns, or combined with pastel colored plastic inserts in the shape of flowers. Many are signed "KTF". Watch for age-darkened rhinestones, a common flaw on these early pieces.
The 1940s saw Joseph Wuyts' designs join Alfred Philippe. Florals were still very popular, in addition to birds, fish, hearts, and figures. Brooches featured colorful enameled flowers and sparkling rhinestones. Poured glass was another method used to depict flowers. Pav rhinestones (an all-over pattern rhinestones very close together) combined with red or black enamel were commonly found features on jewelry from the early 1940s.
During the War years, Sterling Silver was used in costume jewelry, as other metals were needed for the war effort. "Jelly Belly" jewelry made its appearance in 1943. These were clear lucite "bellies" that formed the bodies of animal, fish and bird figures. Authentic jelly belly pieces are very collectible, but be aware that some jelly belly jewelry has been reproduced.
The late 1940s saw more abstract designs, with florals and bird designs still popular. More jelly bellies and lots of pav rhinestones were featured. A 1949 Poodle brooch with a green jelly belly is very popular with collectors.
In the 1950s designs became even more abstract, and flowers, leaves, bows, hearts and animals in rhinestones, plastic, and jelly bellies were very popular. White plastic motifs such as apples, pears and flowers set in gold-tone metal were very desirable, as well as multi colored rhinestone brooches and earrings.
In the 1950s charm bracelets became popular, and Trifari produced charms of the signs of the Zodiac. These charms sold for $5.00! I would have had to baby-sit for 10 hours to earn enough for one, plus another 4 hours for the bracelet!
Necklaces of gold tone with clear and colored rhinestones were featured in the 1950s, and flower-and-leaf designs were popular. The late '50s saw plastic and enamel pieces in white and turquoise, as well as sparkling rhinestone brooches in flower, key and wreath shapes.
As you can see, there were many many designs of Trifari costume jewelry down through the years. If you're lucky enough to come across a vintage piece, examine it closely, be sure that it is indeed vintage, and be proud to add it to your collection.

A Look At Trifari Costume Jewelry~Part 1

Vintage Trifari jewelry is a good choice for beginning collectors. The jewelry is beautifully made, was plentiful over a long period of time, and vintage pieces are still very affordable.
The company started to produce costume jewelry in 1910, and production continues to the present day. The most affordable and available vintage Trifari jewelry dates from the 1950s and '60s. Trifari produced so many different styles, that the beginning collector can be choosy and select only those pieces that she truly likes.
For investment purposes, Trifari rhinestone jewelry from the 1950s is affordable and a good long-term investment. And, as always, the piece should be in excellent condition. Keep that loupe or magnifying glass with you every time you shop, and look for flaws, chipped stones, deterioration of the metal, and of course the designer's signature.
This brings us to identifying marks, or signatures as they are called in the jewelry biz.
Recognizing the various signatures will help to date the piece. Early Trifari pieces are signed "KTF" and are highly collectible. "KTF" was first used in 1935. "KTF" with a crown above the "T" dates from 1954, and "Trifari", with no crown or with a thin crown dates from 1937. "Trifari Pat. Pend" is from the 1940s, and Trifari Sterling is from 1942-1947. The copyright symbol - © - appears after 1954. "Trifari" with the © and a small crown in a rectangle is a modern mark, but the date it was first used is unclear.
Any Trifari jewelry that has original paper tags, was featured in vintage advertising, or jewelry that is in its original box make the piece more interesting and more valuable.
Collectors prize jewelry with carved or molded stones. In the 1960s and 1970s beautiful molded stones became available. Some pieces are designed with irregular molded glass stones combined with aurora borealis and other colored stones to give a sense of movement in the piece.
An easily recognizable style of Trifari jewelry is the use of both silver-tone and gold-tone metals in the same piece. Another Trifari creation was the "Jelly Belly", usually figures of birds or fish, with a clear Lucite "belly". These were created during WWII.
Whatever your taste, and whatever your budget, do seek out vintage Trifari jewelry - you'll find some gorgeous pieces at very reasonable prices.