These matching brooches can be worn in a variety of ways to add sparkle to an otherwise simple dress or fashion accessory. Called “dress clips,” brooches like this either have pinstems on the reverse, like this pair, or hinged clips. The versatile jewels were typically worn in pairs to adorn a jacket collar or lapel, neckline, or waistband of a dress, or on a hat, thus offering a myriad of possibilities for creative expression. Like many examples of American costume jewelry, these brooches were designed in New York City and made in Providence, Rhode Island where, by 1952, Trifari operated four manufacturing plants. The fast-moving industry experienced great technical and creative innovations during the first half of the 20th century. Many competing firms wanted credit for similar designs and fastening mechanisms; therefore mass-produced “costume” jewelry from this period was heavily marked with patent, or patent pending, numbers that manufacturers hoped would protect their original ideas. After a successful copyright case, Trifani stopped marking their jewelry with those numbers in 1955 and switched to a copyright mark, ©, which is stamped on these clips.