A fine 19th century Italian uterine manipulator with a beautifully fluted ebonised handle.

It has a rotating mechanism at the base of the stem which allows the two distal prongs to be separated within the uterine cavity though the os cervix.

The function of this rare instrument was for some time a mystery, until an identical instrument was identified in an Italian gynaecological compendium by Lollini. The set has been attributed to the repair of utero-vaginal fistulae, and this particular device as being as a uterine manipulator.

• From the Phisick collection