Il gobbo, the hunchback, was once a popular charm in Italy. He was typically depicted as a dapper little man wearing a dress suit and a top hat. This little gobbetti is carved from mother of pearl shell, but others were made of red coral or silver. He would have been worn on a watch chain or in a bunch with other charms, and was believed to banish malevolent forces and bring good luck. During the 19th and early 20th centuries a person with spinal curvature was also considered a good omen, and gamblers believed that touching their back would bring luck.