1943 Trifari sterling Jelly belly lucite Bunny rabbit pin

Jewelry : Vintage : Designer Signed

 

Circa 1943 gold plated sterling silver (vermeil) jelly belly pin. The pin measures 1 7/8" x 1 5/8". The bunny has a clear rhinestone eye surrounded by red enamel, clear rhinestones accents on the ears, tail and branch and 3 red rhinestone navettes. The pin is marked "DESPATNO 135169" and "sterling" and "Trifari" with a crowned "T". During the 1940's Trifari was making wind shields for fighter planes. The lucite had to be flawless for windshields. Alfred Phillipe got the brain storm to incorporate the rejected lucite into whimsical jewelry designs, thus the birth of the "jelly belly". The jelly bellies were made of sterling silver due to the restriction of other metal use for jewelry during the war. There is some wear to the gold plating on the reverse. There is some darkening to the tiny clear rhinestones.

Item ID: RL-1762