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Trifary Jewelry history

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Trifari Jewelry History


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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 designs created during this period were created to resemble the real fine jewelry. As time went on the designers became more flamboyant and created jewelry that was outrageous in design, but the bulk of their output still remained on producing jewelry that mimics fine jewelry. The bracelet on the right is signed KTF and is from the mid 1930s.

Alfred Philippes artistry in jewelry was unequaled in the 1940s, no designer had more influence on the output of fashion jewelry. He introduced his crown pin in 1941 but it was not patented because of WW11 till 1944. His whimsical designs and ability to bring attention to the fine detail on each item took Trifari to the leader in costume jewelry. He moved from the molded glass sets to the lucite jelly bellies and created some of the most collectable costume jewelry to this day.

The 1941 Trifari crown pin was signed Trifari Sterling and Des. Pat. Pend.,. The patent was filed again on Feb 12 1944 and was approved on Mar 28th 1944 and issued with the design patent number 137542. These crown pins were re-issued in 1947 in two different sizes in gold wash sterling silver. The crown pin continued to be one of the most favorite items sold by Trifari. It was re-issued in 1951, to 1955, and again in 1960 and in the late 1960s. Changes were made in the design of the crown pin to incorporate pearls into it.

Joseph Wuyts a well known designer also did some designs for Trifari. This patriot ribbon bow pin was designed in 1940 for Trifari. There is a list towards the bottom of the page of some other designers that either worked at Trifari or were contracted to do some jewelry for them.

Nenette and Rintintin on the right were a design by Philippe in 1943 after the figures carried by allied soldiers during WW1 made of silk or wool. They were done in gold over sterling silver with Des. Pat. 136079 and Des. Pat. 136080. Pom-Pom and Tom-Tom are the pair with the molded stone arms, legs and skirt. They were from 1949 and done in gold wash sterling signed Trifari Des. Pat. 153551 and Des. Pat. 153552 Sterling.

The key pin and earrings were by Philippe in 1947, signed "Trifari Sterling" Des. Pat. Pend., these were done in a gold over sterling. Afred Philippe's tenure with Trifari spanned almost 4 full decades till his retirement in 1968. From head designer to president of Trifari, he lead the company to the leader in the costume and high fashion jewelry industry.

Known Jewelry Designers for Trifari Alfred Philippe (1930s 40s 50s to 1966.) Alfred Spaney (Late 1930s to 1940s) Also Some animal pins David Mir (1930s and 1940s) Also Some bow pins Norman Bel Geddes (1940) Joseph Wuyts (1940) Benedetto Panetta, Jean Paris (1958-1965) Andre Boeut (1967-1979) Diane Love (1971-1974) Jonathan Bailey (1970s) Marcella Saltz (1980s-1990s) Usually signed her name

Trifari's Signature Jewels by TRIFARI(crown over T in Trifari 1920) "used as label" Gainsborough (1932) "printed version used to ID collection" KTF (mark first in use 1935) "on metal" KTF. (taller T than other letters) 1935 "on metal" CLIP-MATES (1936) "used as label" TRIFARI (with out the crown above T) "first used 1937 on metal" TRIFARI (with crown above the T) "first used in 1939 on metal Orientique by TRIFARI (1950) "Used as label to identify collection" Ear-Mates (signed in script 1953) "used as label" T (T hang tag with open detailed crown on top 1954) "metal hang tag on item" KTF (crown over T 1954) "used to ID KTF Industrial Products" TIE-UPS (1957) "used as label" Tie-Ups by TRIFARI (Tie-Ups in script and crown over T in Trifari 1957) "used as label" Triege by TRIFARI (Triege in script with crown over T in Trifari 1958) "Label used to ID collection" TRIFARI TM (contempory mark (TM) is smaller) "used on metal" The Crown above the T has been changed many times over the years both on hang tags and labels. The first metal hang tags on items were fancy open cut and had fine detail work. The paper label T hang tags were often close to the original but varied from a tall and slender T to a shorter and broader version with different style of the crown. Pictures of signature stamped in metal or on plaques will soon be here!

Trifari's Line of Jewels Gainsborough 1932 Jewels of Tanjore 1945 Talisman 1946 Moghul 1949 Scheherazade 1949 Day and Night 1949 Orientique by Trifari 1950 Gems of India 1951 Coronation Jewels 1952 L'Opera 1952 Evening Star 1954 Pins à la Mode 1958 Triege by Trifari 1958 Sorrento 1959 Etoile 1959 Fantasia by Trifari 1960 The Jewels of India 1965 Trifari's Fireworks 1966 L' Orient 1968 Trifari Light 1968 White Enamel Collection 1969 Ming Collection 1972 Diane Love Collection 1972

Trifari History of Ownership
Founders and sons of founders of Trifari (1910 to 1975)
Hallmark Jewelry Co. (1975 to 1988)
Crystal Brands (1988 to 1994)
Chase Capital Partners, a
Lattice Holding Co., a division of the Monet Group (1994 to 2000)
Monet Group, was purchased by Liz Claiborne in (July 2000)
Liz Claiborne moved operations to Puerto Rico soon after purchase!
Trifari, Mosell, and Marvella Jewelry are now off shore operations.

Spirit of Abundance

A magical thing has happened. I recently came across a strange pendant. I was just going to put it with the rest of the junk jewelery I come across from time to time, but I forgot, and left it in a coat pocket.
I did not even know it was there, but for some reason, it made a huge difference in the outcome of events for the following week.

I have discovered that this pendant has magical powers. It attracts the spirit of abundance and helps one align him-herself with their true self.

I am posting pictures of it here in case anyone else happens to have one.

I have been offered $500.00 for it, but I won't sell it. If you have any information on this, please let me know.

Thanks!

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