Rare Early Trifari FN Co. Pot Metal Door Knocker Brooch

Antique Art Nouveau or Edwardian door knocker brooch in pot metal and rhinestones. The rhinestones still shine, but they are not as bright as they used to be. The beauty is in the design, artistry, and patina of age. A similar style is shown in Ginger Moro's book on European Costume jewelry. It is identified as French but this piece is by FN Co., the pre-cursor to Trifari. This particular brooch is dated to around 1911 to 1930, in a late Edwardian and early Art Nouveau style. This theme is a popular one, and this look was 'copied by a high-end design company whose name begins with "C" and ends with "r" who took this to a new level when they made a similar one in precious metal and genuine gems. Many of the 'iconic' designer pieces have actually been 'permanently borrowed' from talented, but unknown, designers or companies that went out of business, as did FN Co.