A superb pair of miniature gold plated auricles with ivory ear pieces signed by arguably the finest ear trumpet maker of the 19th century F C Rein.

They are housed in their original purple velvet lined leather case. A similar example is shown on p21 of Elizabeth Bennion’s book ‘Antique Hearing Devices’ where they are described as brass plated miniature trumpets and another pair in copper is illustrated in her book “Antique Medical Instruments’ (see last two pictures).

• From the Phisick collection