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 gold 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 phrasing for thumbs up, and would have originally had two moving arms, each hand making a thumbs up sign. Sadly this little figure has lost its arms at some point in time (somehow this seems quite ironic!) but we still think 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 9ct gold, marked ‘9ct’ to the back, as well as ‘RD 636612’ which is the registered mark that dates to circa 1914. The head is made of wood, with two small white and black eyes, and moves slightly from side to side.
The charm is hollow in the middle of the body and weighs approx 1.2g in total. It measures approx 30.6mm tall (not including the jump ring) by approx 7.5mm 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 gold and wood. There is a small indent to the figure's belly, to the left of the belly button. As mentioned above, the two arms are missing and there are holes to the body where they would have originally been attached. The jump ring is currently pushed closed. 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 9ct 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.