A faux tortoise shell celluloid auricle with an attractive organic art nouveau design in its original tin box.

On the inside of the lid is a picture of a Victorian woman sporting the aid and below this “To be adjusted behind the ear as shown above. Dr F M Blodgett’s Multi-Audiphone for deafness No 1286 Broadway New York”.

The label on the base of the tin reads “No 2 Right ear Tortoise Shell” with a hand written receipt to Miss Nelly Laing for 5.00 $ dated 1892. The auricle is marked ” Multi-Audiphone Dr F M Blodgett New York Patented April 8 1890 2R ” (the latter denoting the size and side). An exceptionally rare auricle type of hearing aid with provenance, complete and in excellent condition.

• From the Phisick collection