Not currently on display at the V&A

Brooch Casting

1950s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

One of a sequence of casts showing stages in the making of a brooch by Trifari, a leading manufacturer of costume jewellery in Providence, Rhode Island.

The manufacturer has described this stage as follows:
'The rough castings are put into large tumbling machines which contain thousands of odd shaped pieces of steel. Some of these are as small as bird shot and others are larger. The rough castings are gently tumbled round and round and the little pieces of steel get into every nook and cranny, rubbing away the crustiness that forms on the surface of the casting as the metal cools.'


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Base metal (Trifanium), cast
Brief description
Brooch casting 'A' with sprue removed, Trifari, United States, 1950s
Physical description
Casting 'A' after being tumbled with steel shot
Dimensions
  • Height: 3.8cm
  • Width: 3.8cm
  • Depth: 1.3cm
Production typeMass produced
Credit line
Given by Clive Kandel
Object history
Original typewritten label stapled to the lining of the display tray:
'1.30 Castings "A" and "B" tumbled with steel shot'. This refers to M.19 and M.20.
Subject depicted
Summary
One of a sequence of casts showing stages in the making of a brooch by Trifari, a leading manufacturer of costume jewellery in Providence, Rhode Island.

The manufacturer has described this stage as follows:
'The rough castings are put into large tumbling machines which contain thousands of odd shaped pieces of steel. Some of these are as small as bird shot and others are larger. The rough castings are gently tumbled round and round and the little pieces of steel get into every nook and cranny, rubbing away the crustiness that forms on the surface of the casting as the metal cools.'
Collection
Accession number
M.19-2003

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Record createdDecember 5, 2003
Record URL
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