Rare 2,800-year-old mummified ancient Egyptian HEAD kept in a cupboard in Oxfordshire for a century is up for sale - with an eye-watering £20,000 price tag

Daily Mail ^ | May 1, 2023 | Sam Tonkin

[DogByte6RER]

* The head was brought home by a British soldier who fought in Egypt during WWI

* Remained in soldier's family for a century and is now being sold by a descendant

A rare 2,800-year-old mummified Egyptian head brought to the UK by a British soldier during the First World War has gone on sale.

The artefact, which was stuffed away in a cupboard for decades because 'it is not everyone's cup of tea', has an eye-watering price tag of £20,000.

It has been carbon dated to between 800 BC and 750 BC.

The head remained in the unnamed soldier's family for a century. He put it under a glass dome to preserve it, but as some visitors did not like looking at it, the skull ended up being tucked away in a cupboard.

It is now being sold by one of the soldier's descendants, who has chosen to remain anonymous.

'It's just been kept in a cupboard as it is not everyone's cup of tea,' said the anonymous Oxfordshire vendor.

‘It would be ideal if it could go somewhere where it can be studied and appreciated.

'I'm hoping that a museum will pick up on the carbon dating and historical importance.

'If it doesn't sell, I will probably loan it to a museum where it can be on display anyway.'

The head is going under the hammer at Swan Fine Art auctions, which is based in Tetsworth.

[Libloather]

She was born 2,800 years ago so it kinda equals out.