A fine ancient Egyptian silver amulet in the shape of a poppy head. The amulet features a long straight neck, topped with a loop perforated for suspension. The body of the amulet is spherical in shape and seated on a flat, circular base. Dark encrustations and patination cover much of the surface. The neck is leaning slightly to the side in relation to the spherical base. Poppy or thistle amulets were representative of healing and the removal of pain. Thistles were common all over Egypt, but especially around the Nile. It is thought that they were peeled and boiled before consumption, with the thistle used in some parts of the world as a herbal treatment for hepatic disorders. If, on the other hand, the amulet is intended to represent a poppy, the piece retains symbolic significance. Indeed, there is evidence for the extraction of morphine from poppies in the ancient world. Measurements: H 1.8cm x W 0.6cm Weight: 1.04g Provenance: From a UK collection, 1920's-1940's.