Originally sold in the 5 and 10 cent stores back in the 1920s and 1930s, this very special pressed glass charm was made in Japan. It measures about 3/8 inch high (not including to little metal loop) and about 7/16 inch wide. The color in the glass is slightly variegated, but the main color of each charm is ivory or white. Even the string is original (the color of the string may vary from the one pictured).
These are new old stock - never used. We even found them in the original box marked Made in Japan. These were manufactured as a novelty - perhaps for a little girl's charm bracelet, so please allow for some variability.
The term white elephant is one we remember from the 1950s and 1960s tag sales - often called White Elephant Sales. The white elephant was a rare and beautiful animal and considered sacred in southeast Asian countries as Burma (now Myanmar), Siam (now Thailand), Laos and Cambodia. Still sacred in Myanmar and Thailand, the White Elephant is expected to bring peace and prosperity to the owner.
Receiving a gift of a white elephant is both a blessing and a curse. It's rarity makes it a blessing, but to care for it makes it a curse, as it is so expensive.
