Featured Any idea what this little Egyptian figure is?

One more item from an auction lot.

His headdress unscrews. It doesn't look water tight so it probably isn't for perfume. And my first thought was needle case, but I think it's too short.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

You're right. I thought it was just a design.

It looks like it says METAL.

 

Here's a similar perfume bottle...
https://www.rubylane.com/item/1151304-001163/Vintage-Schafer-Vater-Egyptian-Mummy-German


And a question. It looks as if the very top is a button. It may be a plunger to release liquid without unscrewing it.


James.

 

Does that button on the top go down when you push on it ?

 

It does push down! Good eyes there guys.

And the way it's formed it does look like it releases something.

 

It's also a thick enamel on top. It's too strong a spring to use it for perfume.

I also think it may have had a cap covering the plunger.

 

How tall is it?

 

Only 2".

 

Just thinking aloud...

The button probably has not been engaged in decades. It's possible that it just needs to be soaked to dissolve whatever passed through it.

Guessing it held an essential oil, and if the button worked easily, you could dab it on and rub it around.

And yes, a cap would be useful and it looks as if it could have had one.

James.

 

It might just be as 20's said,just something to whiff when the streets were pungent .

 

a little dab'll, do ya !!!!!!!!!

 

Flower oils are wildly popular in Egypt, I still have some from a few years back.

 

I've been doing image searches and I see a lot of similar figures but they're mechanical pencils and one was even a lipstick holder.

But they're all similar gilt brass with enamel.

I may just list it as a vanity or desk accessory, being deliberately vague about it's use.

 

It seems too small for most desk accessories. I think OBB is onto something with essential oils.

 

I suspect it was sold holding something like rose oil. A nice older tourist piece.