Mid-century style botanical cone brooch

This item is a gold-tone brooch featuring a cluster of three textured, cone-shaped botanical elements—likely representing hops, acorns, or thistle buds—joined by a single curved stem. The finish appears to be a matte or brushed gold plating over a base metal, which is a technique frequently employed in mid-20th-century costume jewelry. The texture of the 'scales' on the cones is finely detailed with linear engraving, suggesting a cast construction with secondary finishing. While the owner identifies this as a 'Trifari pin,' there are no maker's marks visible in the provided image to verify this claim; the design is, however, stylistically consistent with the botanical and textured gold-tone series produced by Trifari and other American costume jewelers during the 1950s and 1960s. Condition-wise, the brooch shows visible signs of age and wear. Most notably, there is green oxidation (verdigris) and significant darkening on the upper half of the central cone, suggesting moisture exposure or a breakdown of the plating. There is also minor plating loss on the high points of the sculptural scales. The reverse side, including the pin mechanism, is mostly obscured, preventing assessment of the clasp type or potential hallmarks.

Based on what I can see in the provided image, this brooch appears to be a mid-century botanical gold-tone costume piece. Per user submission, the item is identified as a Trifari pin. I cannot find any visible hallmarks to support this attribution, though the sculptural aesthetic and textured finish are consistent with pieces produced during that era by major American costume jewelry firms. This estimate assumes the owner's attribution is correct, as the value of a piece of this type depends heavily on authentication. The current value is being negatively impacted by visible verdigris and plating loss on the central cone; such conditions typically suggest moisture exposure or metal breakdown, which collectors of vintage jewelry may find undesirable. I can't verify from a photo whether the base metal is stable or if the branding is accurate. To confirm the origin, I would need a physical inspection to document hidden maker’s marks and the specific construction of the clasp mechanism. General market conditions for vintage botanical brooches show steady interest, but items with significant wear or lack of verified branding typically sell for a fraction of the price—often in the $10–$25 range if the attribution to Trifari is not supported by a hallmark. A higher value would require a verified signature and professional cleaning of the oxidation. An unauthenticated piece of this type would typically sell for less than one bearing a clear mark consistent with the suspected maker.