Antique Italian sterling silver fig sign fork talisman against evil eye 0.4oz

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Antique Italian sterling silver fig sign fork talisman against evil eye 0.4oz:
$39.99

Measurements 4.5\" long .7/16\" at it\'s widest . 1/4\" at it\'s thickest point.Indistinct stamped hallmark on back of handle.weight 11.3 gramsUsual item two pronged barbed silver fork with the \"Fig Sign\" at top of handle.TheFig Sign (to take one\'s thumb and place it between the first two fingers of the hand in a fist.)The fig sign is the phallus of Priapus (Greek god of male fertility) pushing away the evil eye of JEALOUSY, key word here in this context of luxurious Italian Sterling Silver Flatware. The apotropaic function is built right into the handle! Certainly any wealthy host using this pattern feared an envious, larcenous guest.
Thefig Montenegrin - šipak; Mongolian - figu;Bulgarian:кукиш, шипка;Russian:кукиш, шиш, дуля, фига, is a mildly obscene gesture used inTurkishandSlavic culturesand some other cultures that uses two fingers and a thumb, but not equal tothe fingerin Anglo-American culture.

The finger position is an approximate representation ofglans penis, which is reflected in the name (in Russian \"шиш\", literally \"pine cone\", is ametonymfor penis or tip of the penis), or of aclitoris, also reflected in the name (in many languages fig is a euphemism forvulva). This gesture is most commonly used to refuse giving of aid or to disagree with the target of gesture. Usually it is connected with requests for a financial loan or assistance with performing physical work.

Another use of this gesture is for warding offevil eye, jealousy, etc.[1]

In Ancient Rome, the fig sign, or mano fico, was made by thepater familiasto ward off the evil spirits of the dead as a part of theLemuriaritual.[2]

The hand gesture may have originated in ancientHindu cultureto depict thelingamandyoni.[1]

Among early Christians, it was known as themanus obscena, or \"obscene hand\".[1]