Trifari Girl & Boy Rag Doll Brooches

NWS 13-1166

~ These pins are sooo adorable! And I love the story behind them. In France, during World War I, children would make these little rag dolls as momentos and tokens of love for their soldiers in the French Infantry going off to war. The custom was revived in World War II. Trifari's famous designer, Alfred Philippe, came up with the idea of making jewelry in the same fashion

~ The original dolls were made from threads of wool and silk, and you can see these "threads" in the charming design

~ During World War II, costume jewelers were forced to use sterling silver for their jewelry, as all other metals had been restricted for use in the war effort. That's why this lovely pair of brooches is vermeil

~ Their arms are wide open, is if to embrace their loved ones and let the soldiers know their hearts and prayers are with them

~ The faces of the dolls are each comprised of a large, faux ruby cabochon that has been prong-set into the vermeil

~ The bodices of both pins have been covered with pavé-set, faceted, faux diamonds; the boy doll has a golden turban on his head and has a sash tied at his waist with a flourish of faux diamonds set in the ends of the sash

~ The girl doll wears a hair band that is tied into a bow at the top of her head

~ The rag dolls have ties at their wrists and at the boy's feet, showing us how the rag dolls were originally made

~ The boy pin measures 1 5/8" high and 1.25" wide; the girl pin measures 1.5" high and 1 1/8" wide

Research: Featured in the book, American Costume Jewelry, by Brunialti & Brunialti, p. 119

c.1940, in near mint condition, with all original stones

Price =  $235.00

Who was Trifari?