Costume jewelry maker Trifari is widely loved for its fine craftsmanship and complex designs for necklaces, brooches and other jewelry and accessories.
The company was formed in New York during the early 1920s, when its partners Gustavo Trifari (who descended from a family of jewelers), Leo Krussman and Carl Fishel (business associates in hair-ornament manufacturing) recognized, as other designers during the Art Deco era such as Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel had, that fashion trends for affordable jewelry for everyday wear represented an opportunity (and that the popularity of shorter hairstyles didn’t bode well for their haircomb business).
Initially called Trifari, Krussman and Fishel Jewelry (T.K.F.), the trio eventually shortened their brand’s name, at the suggestion of an advertising professional, to Trifari in order to evoke the romance of Gustavo’s native Italy.
The hiring of French designer Alfred Philippe as head designer in 1930 was pivotal to Trifari’s success. A master craftsman who had worked with both Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, Philippe set about establishing the same high-quality standards of materials and craftsmanship in the design of fashion jewelry and trained other Trifari artisans to do the same. Settings were delicate; crystals were hand set; designs, which sometimes featured dazzling floral motifs or exquisite depictions of marine life, were sophisticated and elegant, having both the look and feel of fine jewelry. First Lady Mamie Eisenhower wore a Trifari parure of faux pearls to her husband’s presidential inauguration in 1953 and Trifari glass pearls to his inaugural ball in 1957.
Before retiring in 1968, Philippe created Trifari’s most recognizable designs. In the 1930s, when the company was custom-making accessories for the stars of Broadway musicals, it was the crown motif: These brooches became so often identified with the brand that a crown was eventually incorporated into the trademark. In the 1940s, the “Jelly Bellies” inspired affection as well as knockoffs; these were animals, birds and insects sporting a “belly” of clear Lucite. Clip-Mates were another favorite and a technical marvel — two dress clips that, joined together, created a brooch.
Find a wide range of vintage Trifari jewelry on 1stDibs.
Vintage TRIFARI signed vintage gold tone bow designer brooch
By Trifari
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • signed TRIFARI • gold tone • vintage designer brooch MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear Sku 49 ❤️❤️ VINTAG...
TRIFARI crown signed vintage gold tone rhinestone designer brooch
By Trifari
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • signed TRIFARI crown • gold tone with rhinestones • vintage designer brooch MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear Sku 5...
TRIFARI crown signed vintage silver tone ruby eyes turtle figural brooch
By Trifari
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • signed TRIFARI crown • silver tone with rhinestones • vintage designer brooch MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear...
TRIFARI crown signed vintage gold tone designer brooch
By Trifari
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • signed TRIFARI crown • gold tone • vintage designer brooch MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear Sku 56 ❤️❤️ VI...
Vintage Trifari XL Gold-Plated Leaf Spray Brooch
By Trifari
Located in AMSTERDAM, NL
Striking large vintage brooch by the celebrated American costume jewellery house Trifari. Beautifully modelled as a leafy spray or branch, the brooch features multiple finely detaile...
TRIFARI signed vintage silver tone modernist designer brooch
By Trifari
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • signed TRIFARI crown • silver tone • vintage designer brooch MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear Sku 57 ❤️❤️ ...
Trifari Gilt Metal Crystal Encrusted Poodle Dog Brooch c 1960
By Trifari
Located in University City, MO
Trifari gilt metal crystal encrusted poodle dog brooch c 1960 The elegant canine brooch is designed with an endearing poodle with impressed gilt metal detail that emulates dog fur...
TRIFARI signed vintage gold tone rhinestone enamel designer brooch
By Trifari
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • signed TRIFARI • gold tone with enamel and rhinestones • vintage designer brooch MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear...
TRIFARI crown signed vintage gold designer brooch
By Trifari
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • signed TRIFARI • gold tone with lucite • vintage designer brooch MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear Sku 46 ❤️...
Vintage TRIFARI crown signed gold pearl tree designer brooch
By Trifari
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • signed TRIFARI crown • gold tone with faux pearls • vintage designer brooch MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear...
Trifari Jeweled Crystal Butterfly
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Charming Trifari Jeweled Crystal Butterfly in tones of ruby, sapphire and emerald. 1950's USA. 2.5" w x 2" high.
Gilt Metal
$775 / set
Trifari Figural Bugs on Leaf Suite
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari Figural Bugs on Leaf Suite from the 1960's. Brushed gilt Florentine finish with applied bugs with ruby pastes. Brooch 2.25", Earring 1.25". 1960's USA.
Gilt Metal
TRIFARI vintage gold pink glass jelly belly designer brooch
By Trifari
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • signed TRIFARI • gold tone with glass • vintage designer runway brooch MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • excellent vintage condition with minimal signs of wear ❤️❤️ VINTA...
Vintage TRIFARI signed gold tone crown royal jewel rhinestone designer brooch
By Trifari
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • signed TRIFARI • gold tone with rhinestones • vintage designer brooch MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear Sku 4...
$1,350 / set
Trifari L'Orient Series Brooch Set
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari L'Orient Series Brooch and earring set from the 1960's. Done in a David Webb style with faux cab coral and emeralds with enamel. Crest bro...
Gilt Metal
$180Sale Price|20% Off
Trifari Golden Floral Motif Pin Brooch, Vintage 1900s
By Trifari
Located in Milford, DE
Vintage Trifari pin, featuring a golden, abstract, floral-inspired motif in the traditional Trifari style. Gold-filled. Marks / hallmarks: Trifa...
Gold-filled
Trifari Alfred Philippe Invisibly Set Brooch
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari Alfred Philippe Invisibly set KTF ruby leaf art deco brooch. Bar form composed of three invisibly set glass leaves, crystal pave and ba...
Crystal, Rhodium, Base Metal, Gilt Metal
Early Trifari Ming Dragon
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Early Trifari Ming Dragon by Alfred Phillipe. Black enamel over gold with pave studded "pearl" belly body. From the "Ming" Series, 1940's Trifari. 2" x 1...
Gilt Metal
$212Sale Price|20% Off
Trifari Gold Flower Pin Brooch with Amethyst Crystals and Cabochon
By Trifari
Located in Milford, DE
Floral brooch by Trifiari. This gold plated flower is decorated with amethyst crystals and a centerpiece cabochon.
Crystal, Gold Plate
Trifari Rare Purple Jelly Belly Turtle Brooch
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Rare gold washed sterling silver Trifari purple lucite Jelly Belly brooch. Retro style with emerald cabochon eyes and crystal pave, 1940's. 1.50" L,1.25" W
Gold Plate
$347Sale Price|29% Off
Trifari Retro Yellow "Bouquet" Brooch with Focal Marquise Cut
By Trifari
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Trifari Retro yellow "bouquet" brooch with focal marquise cut faux sapphire and crystal rhinestone pave. Excellent Condition ,Signed
Crystal, Gold, Gold Plate
Trifari Orientalist Enamel Brooch
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari Orientalist Enamel Brooch from the 1960's. Large gilt brooch with ivory enamel ground with Asian scenes in relief. 2.5", 1960's USA.
Enamel, Gilt Metal
Trifari Enamel Heraldic Mini
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Charming collectible Trifari Enamel Heraldic Mini from the 1960's. Detailed enamel on gilt metal with sapphire glass cabochon. 1" x .75".
Enamel, Gilt Metal
Trifari "Swirl" Gold-Tone with Rhinestone Brooch
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari "Swirl" gold-tone hardware accented with rhinestone brooch measures 1 3/4" in length, 1 5/8" in width and 5/8" in depth. Brooch is signed on the back.
Trifari Retro Faux Ruby Transformation Bracelet
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari Retro Style flexible honeycombed rose gold plated and crystal pave link bracelet. Its focal large faux faceted ruby stone is prong set in a retro floriform removeable clip brooch. A novelty...
Gilt Metal
Trifari Mirrored Mosaic Pop Art Brooch
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari Mirrored Mosaic Pop Art Brooch from the 1960's. Panels of vibrant blue and emerald mirror are arranged in a mosiac style. Matching pendant avai...
Gilt Metal
Pair of Trifari Pearl and Baguette Scatter Pins
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Fun pair of Trifari Pearl and Baguette Scatter Pins from the 1960's of faux pearls with emerald baguette borders. Signed Trifari, 1" across. 1960's USA.
Rhodium
Trifari by Diane Love Revivalist Brooch
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Collectible and Rare Trifari by Diane Love Archealogical Revivalist Brooch from the 1970's. Diane Love created a line of Artisan jewels based on Ancient and Historical forms in the 6...
Gilt Metal
Trifari Jeweled Rooster Brooch, Jeweled Symphony Series
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari Jeweled Rooster Brooch from the Jeweled Symphony series from the 1950's. Rhodium plated set with hundreds of vari sized cut pastes and pave with...
Rhodium
Trifari Bug on Leaf Suite
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari Bug on Leaf Suite with white enamel from the 1960's. A tiny bug in pastes is set on the brooch and matching earrings. Pave baguett...
Gilt Metal
TRIFARI crown signed silver tone designer brooch earrings set
By Trifari
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • signed TRIFARI crown • silver tone • vintage designer brooch and earrings set MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear ...
$180Sale Price|20% Off
Trifari Vintage Gold Fish Nautical Pin Brooch
By Trifari
Located in Milford, DE
A stylish retro Trifari brooch, featuring a golden fish. This nautical-themed pin adds some class to any style! Gold filled. Marks / hallmarks...
Gold-filled
Trifari "Jelly Belly" Retro Clip Brooches
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Trifari Retro molded lucite Jelly Belly clip brooches of rose gold plated metal with crystal pave. High style clip brooches meant to be scattered along necklines or lapels. ...
Gilt Metal
Trifari Swarovski Crystal Fuschia Pineapple Brooch
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari Swarovski Crystal Fuschia Pineapple Brooch from the 1960's. Dozens of faceted crystal globes are used as "stones" for the body of the fruit. ...
Gilt Metal
$180Sale Price|20% Off
Trifari Vintage Gold Open Wreath Pin Brooch
By Trifari
Located in Milford, DE
A stylish retro Trifari brooch, featuring a golden open-wreath-style motif. The perfect touch of class by Trifari! Gold filled. Marks / hallma...
Gold-filled
Large Trifari Gold with Navy Enamel and Pearl Floral Brooch
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
This wonderfully detailed Trifari navy enamel and pearl with gilded gold hardware brooch is richly detailed with gold hardware etched within the navy enamel. This brooch measures 2&q...
Trifari Huge "Floral" Gold-Tone Brooch
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari huge "Floral" gold-tone brooch is signed in the signed and measures 2 1/2" in circumference with a depth of 1/2" .
Vintage Trifari Crown Alfred Phillipe Green Crystal Fur / Dress Clip in Gold
By Trifari
Located in Milford, DE
A Trifari Crown fur/dress clip designed by Alfred Phillipe during his time at Trifari. Features a large pale-emerald green colored crystal set in an open back, dual prong, clip bezel.
Crystal, Gold Plate
Trifari Vintage Rare Gold Baroque Orange Enamel Flower White Pearl Openwork Set
By Trifari
Located in Wokingham, England
Trifari Vintage 1980s Orange Pink Grey Enamel Flower White Round Pearl Cabochon Oval Openwork Elegant 2 Gift Jewellery Set, Earrings Brooch Very excellent condition. Very new. 100% ...
Gold Plate
Trifari Rare 1960s Gold-Tone Sea Dragon Brooch with Cabochons
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
An exceptional and highly collectible find for connoisseurs of fine costume jewelry, this 1960s Crown Trifari mythical "Sea Dragon" brooch showcases the dramatic flair and whimsical ...
Crystal, Rhodium, Gold Plate
Trifari Gilded Silver "Owl on Branch" Brooch
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari wonderfully detailed gilded silver "Owl on Branch" brooch measures 2 1/8" in height, 1" in length and 1/2" in depth...
$183Sale Price|20% Off
Textured Silver Leaf Brooch With Crystals By Crown Trifari, 1950s
By Trifari
Located in McKinney, TX
- Vintage item - Collectible costume jewelry piece from the mid-century - 2.25" x 1.5" - Silver "Trifarium" plating - Bezel set clear oval crystals with baguette crystal accents ...
Trifari Etched Gilde Gold Vermeil Hardware "Puppy" Brooch
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari Adorable etched gilded gold vermeil hardware "Puppy" brooch measures 1 5/8 inches in height. Width measures 1 3/8 inches, with a depth of 1/2 inch. Made in the US.
Trifari Lucite with Multi-Size Rhinestones Gold Hardware Sweater Brooches
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari's wonderfully detailed lucite with multi-size of rhinestones set in gilded gold hardware. Set of two, these brooches can be used as sweater clips...
Trifari Polished Silver-Tone "Wreath" Brooch
By Trifari
Located in New York, NY
Trifari silver tone "wreath" brooch is signed on the backside and measures 1 3/4 in width, length is 1 3/4", depth is 1/4".
Flower pin/brooch by Trifari US, rhodium-plated metal and enameled flowers, 1940
By Trifari
Located in Stuttgart, DE
Flower booke pin/brooch by Trifari 1930/40er years USA. Rhodium-plated metal with enameled rosa and light blue flowers, green leaves decorated with small rhinestones. There is a s...
Rhodium, Enamel
Vintage Trifari Gold Tone Multi-Color Stone Brooch
By Trifari
Located in Flushing, NY
Vintage Trifari Gold Tone Multi-Color Stone Brooch Approximate Dimensions: 7.3 cm (Length) 4 cm (Width) 37.4 grams in weight.
Gold
Vintage Trifari Silver Tone Pink Enamel Rhinestone Brooch
By Trifari
Located in Flushing, NY
Vintage Trifari Silver Tone Pink Enamel Rhinestone Brooch Approximate Dimensions: 6.2 cm (Length) 6 cm (Width) 29.6 grams in weight. ** All dimensions listed above are approximat...
Enamel