A quirky collection of whale bone carvings shaped like genitalia is due to be auctioned in Folkestone next week.

The lot, which is being put forward for sale by Grand Auctions in Shearway Business Park, is believed to date back as far as the 18th century.

The items are said to have come from an island in the South Pacific.

Jonathan Riley from Grand Auctions said: "We cannot be certain which particular one, as there a lot of them with very similar cultural backgrounds.

"We think it is possible they were carved in the Cook Islands."

He said the collection was brought in by a client: "These carvings were obviously something to do with fertility.

"Robin Newcombe, our expert, knew what they were and then researched if any had come up for sale over the last few years and found two examples.

"They are particularly interesting because of their extreme rarity and quality of carving considering they had primitive tools.

"Most examples of their work are in museums.

"The carvings also fetch a very high price at sale... a similar collection went for sale in America and made $300,000.

"Another appeared in an English auction where the auctioneers did not know what they had and the vendor acquired them as a house clearance item. They sold for £90,000.

"So you can see how rare they are and in demand."

The Oceanic art is made up of carved whale bone pendant ornaments from a Rei necklace.

The carvings would have been suspended at regular intervals along a woven cord, typically made of human hair and coconut fibres.

There are eight items in the collection, and the longest piece is 4.8cm.

Many of the items in the series are carved in the shape of testicles, which has led the auctioneers to believe they are fertility symbols.

The collection is estimated to sell for between £800 and £1200.

The sale is taking place on Monday at 18 The Glenmore Centre, Shearway Business Park in Folkestone.

The auction begins at 10am.