Posted 8 years ago
CheapSungl…
(8 items)
We discovered this odd little fellow in the bottom of a box of what we assumed was an auction lot purchased by our Dad for a treasure in the box that caught his eye. I know nothing about him. The chain is a sturdy one. I tried to get a good picture of the clasp hoping it might help date the item? I don't know what the little man is made of, but don't think it is plastic. Has anyone seen anything like this before?
Thanks for any information...
Carved from bone and hanging from a watch fob chain. Interesting. Perhaps someone's good luck talisman.
Looks like a Kewpie to me......these sort of things were given to service men during world war 1 as good luck charms.
A fumsup, WWI lucky charm! Your little boy is made of bone.
http://blog.maryevans.com/2014/02/fumsup-a-first-world-war-lucky-mascot.html
Thank you everyone for your thoughts. It is good to finally know something about this piece! It has intrigued me since day one, but life gets busy and I just never took the time to reach out here for help. I knew someone would solve my mystery! :)
I agree it is a fumsup. Cute!
Fumsup is the popular name for a good luck charm popular in the late 19th and early 20th century, and often given to soldiers.
The charm is in the form of a small person or baby,[1] usually with a wooden head (because of the luck associated with touching wood) and metal body, but also used as a motif on cards (reg.trademark 373938).[2] The fumsup could be worn hooked on a button or on a charm chain.[3]
This type of charm grew in popularity from the Victorian era and was at its height during the First World War. The name is derived from "thumbs up", a traditional good luck symbol.[4] Source was Wikipedia.
Thank you for the additional information, ReWind Time. :) I appreciate your taking the time to help me out.