We love finding vintage and antique charms that were made to encourage good luck. So many have wonderful tales behind their designs, just like this rare antique 'fumsup' charm!
The charm is modelled on a small figure that has a wooden head so whenever you wear it you always have wood to touch to banish any bad luck! The figure has 'FUMSUP' written on the front, a phrase for the hand sign thumbs up, and has moveable arms with hands making thumbs up signs. It makes a wonderful talking point and a quirky, wearable piece of history.
These fumsup charms have become highly collectable today, originally being made popular as little good luck charms during WW1, and can be found made of base metal, silver and gold, some with wooden heads, as a double good luck charm, and some with metal heads.
The body of the charm is made of rolled gold, marked ‘ROLLED GOLD’ to the back, as well as ‘RD 636612’ which is the registered mark that dates to circa 1914. Rolled gold means the charm has a base metal inner and a thin layer of gold has been adhered to the surface to give the look of solid gold but without the price tag. The head is made of wood, with two small pinky/red glass eyes that glint when they catch the light. The head is fixed and the arms are hinged so the life up and down together.
The charm is hollow in the middle of the body and weighs approx 1.8g in total. It measures approx 30.9mm tall (not including the jump ring) by approx 9.4mm wide by approx 8.4mm deep.
Condition - the charm is in wearable antique condition and is wonderful piece of history but it does show signs of age and wear, including surface wear to the rolled gold and wood. The arms have rubbed and made marks in the rolled gold where the darker base metal now shows through. There are other places the rolled gold has worn through, including to the sides and also to the Fumsup character's bottom. The jump ring is currently pushed closed and is made of base metal. Please see photos.
*Please note the box and chain pictured are not included in the sale but the charm will be shipped in a new presentation box and pouch.*
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Antique circa 1914 rolled gold and wood fumsup lucky charm
All items are carefully wrapped and packaged in a gift pouch. In the UK, we always post items via Royal Mail's Special Delivery service which is fully tracked and insured. Items sent outside of the UK are sent via Royal Mail's International signed for service, which offers insurance for up to £250 and tracking.