1950s Crown Trifari Enamel Brooch | Floral Sophistication

About Trifari

Gustavo Trifari founded Trifari in the 1910s. He was the son of an Italian goldsmith. In 1925, he formed the Trifari, Krussman, and Fishel company by partnering with sales managers Leo Krussman and Carl Fishel.

Under the leadership of French designer Alfred Philippe, Trifari became a major costume jewelry company. Philippe served as the company’s chief designer from 1930 to 1968. He brought with him the design and manufacturing processes used in fine jewelry, which elevated Trifari’s pieces above the rest. Even if he wasn’t the principal designer of those pieces, most Trifari patents of the era include his name.

The Trifari Crown brooches from the late 1930s to the 1950s were so successful that the company started stamping pieces with the crown logo, leading to the name Crown Trifari. Mamie Eisenhower wore a Crown Trifari necklace, bracelet, and earrings set to the presidential inaugurals in 1953 and again in 1957.

In the 1970s, sales were affected by cheap imports as with many other storied costume jewelry houses. The Monet Group purchased the company in 1994, which, in turn, was purchased by Liz Claiborne in 2000. Trifari still makes jewelry today, but the pieces are of much lower quality.