Rare Lucky Bean Gold Charm With Hidden Bramah Key.
These pendants with hidden keys are so hard to find nowadays that the price has shot up.
This one is designed as a lucky bean. The bean hinges open like a locket and inside the key folds down. The bean can then be closed again with the key still exposed.
 
The Bramah lock was the creation of Joseph Bramah, an English inventor best remembered for developing the hydraulic press.
In 1784, Bramah had turned his attention to locks, founding the Bramah Locks Company.
The Bramah lock with its cylindrical key with turret style end is a very complex lock that is extremely difficult to pick. (The Bramah family challenged all and sundry for 67 years before meeting their match).
 
These locks were often used on jewelry boxes, and the keys themselves were often hidden inside pieces of jewelry - such as this kidney bean.
I have also had plain round lockets and heart lockets. And rings with concealed keys.
 
weighs - 9.5g
measures - 22mm x 15mm not including bail and ring
15+ carat gold
English circa 1870
condition - very good. Tiny ding on one side