Trifari's master designer Alfred Philippe, who worked in France at Cartier & Van Cleef, & brought his stylish designs & craftsmanship to America & Trifari when he became their head designer. They advertised that “Jewels by Trifari are such exquisite fashion pieces, they are usually thought to be real jewels”. This beautiful 1940s dream shell fur clip is representative of that aspiration.
The fur popular clip is sculptural & echoes the form of a natural shell in 3 dimensional perspective. The design is a combination of round & baguette crystals which radiate from a glass pearl center. Stones are almost all there but for a few tiny missing rounds, all baguettes are firmly in place. With a magnifier, the pearl has a blemished surface & some stones have yellowed & darkened; all normal wear for a piece 75 years old that was worn & loved.
There is a crown Trifari mark on the fur clip. The mechanism is in good working order, but one has to treat it gently & thoughtfully. It is a 2 prong clip, with one securing its place in a C shaped fitting. It is also marked sterling & pat pend on the edges. It measures 1-3/4 by 1-1/2 inches & weighs 29.4 grams.
It is elegant & very chic; has a lot of wearability (even makes a stunning hair ornament) to be enjoyed & treasured.
Product code: Vintage 1940s Trifari Alfred Philippe Jeweled Sterling Dream Shell popular Fur Clip