★ Fine Amulet ★

A ROMAN SILVER MANUS FICA AMULET PENDANT Circa 1st-3rd century AD. A fine small pendant in the shape of a fist with the thumb wedged in between two fingers. Suspension loop broken. The obscene gesture of the 'fig hand' was thought to represent female genitalia. In Roman times such amulets were commonly used to ward off the evil eye or spirit. L 18 mm

Austrian private collection, acquired on the European art market.