An Unusual Novelty Polished Hamburger Bean Dice Gaming Charm c.1900

Origin: English
Period: Late Victorian/Edwardian
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1900
Height: 1.25”
Width: 2.5”
Depth: 0.5”

The wonderfully intriguing and exceptionally unusual late Victorian novelty watch fob or gaming charm, traditionally attributed to Boer War prisoner-of-war craftsmanship, the whole finely worked in the form of a hamburger bean, the seed of a vine in the genus Mucuna, the hollow body inset with a glazed viewing aperture to brass bezel revealing three miniature bone dice to be shook within and retaining its original brass suspension loop and displaying a rich chestnut and ebony patina and delightful tactile quality and surviving from the zeniths of the nineteenth century.

Presented in very good antique condition with an attractive, untouched surface throughout. The glazed viewing aperture remains intact and the original brass fittings survive. Ingeniously engineered, the body has been carefully hollowed, mechanically assembled with discreet locating pins and finished to a remarkably high standard, demonstrating a level of craftsmanship beyond that found in many comparable novelty pieces of the period. There are fine age-related shrinkage cracks to the organic body, particularly around the viewing window and along the equatorial join, which are entirely consistent with the age and natural movement of the material over more than a century, adding to its authenticity and character. These seeds are naturally very durable and often wash ashore as drift seeds or “sea beans”, after travelling long distances, are made into jewellery or curios. The object has not been restored or over-polished and retains an honest, mellow appearance.

Extensive research has failed to identify another recorded example of this precise form. Whilst late Victorian novelty gaming watch fobs incorporating miniature dice are known, and comparable prisoner-made carvings from the Anglo-Boer War are well documented, no directly comparable bean-shaped example with enclosed dice beneath a glazed aperture has been traced. The traditional attribution to Boer War prisoner-of-war manufacture is therefore retained, although it cannot presently be conclusively verified. Whether produced within a prisoner-of-war camp or by a skilled Victorian maker inspired by the era’s fascination with ingenious novelty objects, it remains an exceptionally scarce survival and a fascinating example of miniature mechanical craftsmanship. 

A unique and highly collectable object that comfortably sits at the intersection of folk art, gaming history, military history and Victorian ingenuity which proves to be an engaging conversation piece and a wonderful addition to a serious collection of Boer War memorabilia, watch fobs, gambling ephemera or unusual Victorian curiosities.