1940s Crown Trifari Sterling
Jelly Belly Sea Lion Pin with Emerald Glass
Jelly Belly Sea Lion Pin with Emerald Glass
Here is another outstanding 1940s
masterpiece from Trifari. This patented Circus Seal dates to 1943. As with many Trifari patents, Alfred
Philippe is listed as the designer.
Click on the image for a larger view and description
This is a true Jelly Belly. You will see
many pieces of jewelry listed as such, however in the strict sense of the term, the piece must have a clear Lucite belly.
Jelly Bellies are usually animals and
the metal is most often sterling. The earlier pieces and the pieces made
after WWII were made with base metal. Now, there are a few exceptions to the subject matter. I have seen flowers, flower pots, sail boats, and more with clear Lucite listed as Jelly bellies in many books including the Brunialti
books.
Speaking of the Brunialti books, this
imaginative and striking seal can be found on page 183 of the American Costume
Jewelry: Art and Industry, Volume 2 book. The seal can be found
balancing different colored glass balls and even a faux pearl.
Jelly Bellies were first produced during the latter part of the 1930s. Many
designers produced them. Besides Trifari, there was Coro, Norma and Sandor to name a few.
Sandor was one of the first to use Lucite as a predominant element in a piece jewelry. That happened in 1940.
Many unsigned jelly bellies can be found on the secondary market that might have produced by one of the well known designers. Many designers just did not sign their work, nor did they keep the type or records that would help us determine with certainty who made the pieces.
Below is a reproduction of the patent for the Seal.
Click on the image for a larger view.
Trifari reproduced some of their most famous Jelly Bellies during the 1960s. These were made with base metal.
It seems to me that the Trifari pieces command the highest prices.
These pieces are more than a piece of jewelry to me. I think they are also historical and show the ingenuity of the human spirit. I feel this way
about most of the jewelry produced during the 1940s when materials were rationed for the was effort. Trifari and many other costume jewelers could have closed its doors in response. They did not and we are the beneficiaries.
We picked this piece as our Jewel of the Month
in honor of Saint Patrick's Day.
If you want to wear the green on March 17th
and you do not have or want to wear a
shamrock, we think this cutie will do!
Visit our Jelly Belly Gallery
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