Egyptian mummy head kept in a cupboard for a century for sale

Some may say it’s a sight for sore eyes.

A 2,800-year-old ancient Egyptian mummy head that had been locked away in a cupboard for decades has been put up for sale.

The precious artifact was brought to the UK by a British soldier during the First World War — and has been carbon dated to between 800BC and 750 BC.

A descendant of the soldier who had the priceless relic in their family’s possession for a century said it was kept away in a cupboard for decades because “It is not everyone’s cup of tea,” the Daily Mail reported.

Originally, the artifact was showcased under a glass dome, but after visitors began to find it disturbing the family decided to stash it away.

The ancient mummified head is going for an eye-popping £20,000 — or nearly $25,000.

Since some of the relatives found it unseemly, one of the soldier’s descendants put the relic up for auction.

“It would be ideal if it could go somewhere where it can be studied and appreciated,” the Oxfordshire vendor, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said.

“I’m hoping that a museum will pick up on the carbon dating and historical importance.”

While the relative is hoping to sell the priceless mummied head, he said he would consider lending it out if there are no takers.

“If it doesn’t sell, I will probably loan it to a museum where it can be on display anyway,” the relative added.

The head is being sold at Swan Fine Arts auctions in Tetsworth. It is set to be auctioned off on Wednesday.

Matthew Hull, a specialist at Swan Fine Art, told Daily Mail such an artifact was an unusual find.

“It’s very rare to see an Egyptian mummy head from the ancient world at public auction, particularly a piece with such superb preservation.”

According to Hull, the head going up for auction was mummified during the Third Intermediate Period of ancient Egypt, which was between 1070 BC and 664 BC.