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LOT 0429
Egyptian Terracotta Ithyphallic Figurine of a Seated Male
PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, 2ND-1ST CENTURY B.C.
2 1/2 in. (64 grams, 63 mm).
Representing a hunchback in a crouched position, leaning against his emphasised phallus and resting a triangular harp on it. [No Reserve]
ProvenanceThe Erotica Collection Christian von Faber-Castell, Küsnacgt ZH, Switzerland, since the late 1970s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Cf. Ross, T., ‘Egyptian Late Period figures in terracotta and limestone’ in Villing, A., Beregeron, M., Bourogiannis, G., Johnston, A., Leclere, F., Masson, A., Ross, T., Naukratis, Greeks in Egypt, London, 2015, pp.1-79, figs.102,016-107, for a similar ithyphallic Harpocrates.
FootnotesFrom the 4th century B.C. onwards, small-scale sculptures developed into a rich repertoire of grotesque types. These so-called grotesques were an enhancement of the Hellenistic interest in the human body and its weakness and imperfections by depicting disfigured individuals. According to some scholars, terracotta (and bronze) figurines of this kind were life-like representations of beggars and others who gathered at big feasts in temples or at the houses of the wealthy. In the latter case, they indicated the importance and wealth of the host as the more beggars an event attracted, the greater the fortune of the event organiser. By implication, the bronze and terracotta portraits of these marginal people could have become symbols and charms of good luck that would have been placed in private houses.
Christian von Faber-Castell (born 1950) is a renowned German entrepreneur and art collector, best known as a member of the prominent Faber-Castell family, famed for their iconic writing instruments. A passionate advocate for art and culture, Christian von Faber-Castell curated an extensive and diverse private collection of erotica, spanning centuries and cultures. His collection reflects a deep appreciation for the interplay of beauty, sensuality, and artistic expression, bringing together rare and unique works that explore themes of intimacy and human connection. Pieces from this collection have been featured in notable exhibitions and are celebrated for their artistic and historical significance. This offering represents a rare opportunity to acquire works from one of the most fascinating and eclectic private collections of its kind.
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LOT 0429
Egyptian Terracotta Ithyphallic Figurine of a Seated Male
Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
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Egyptian Blue Faience Clothing Mounts
Roman Period, 30 B.C.-323 A.D.Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £135
Group of rosette mounts, each plano-convex in profile with two attachment holes to the centre and pierced loops to the rim. 124 grams total, 25-30 mm
UK private collection, formed in the 1980s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato. -
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Egyptian Limestone Relief with the Figure of the God Hapi
Late-Ptolemaic Period, circa 664-30 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,640
A relief depicting the upper half of the Nile divinity facing right, sporting a slender beard with curved end, wearing a tripartite wig surmounted by a floral crown in the form of a clump of papyrus with bent buds, and an elaborate multi-strand beaded broad collar; the pendulous breast characteristic of this type of figure; with both upper arms angled right towards traces of a libation vase and possible stem of a lotus flower; traces of a vertical register line behind the figure’s head; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 10.85 kg total, 38.5 cm high including stand
From the estate of the late designer Anthony Powell (1935-2021). This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12497-230640. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Representations of fecundity figures can be traced from the Old Kingdom through to the Roman Period. These figures serve as divine embodiments of Egypt’s fertile productivity and are commonly depicted in series on the lower registers of temple walls, symbolising the fertility of each province. Historically, they have often been mistakenly referred to as the ‘Nile God’; however, the term Hapi, which sometimes identifies these figures, actually refers to the inundation rather than the River Nile itself, highlighting the source of Egypt’s fertility. -
Coptic Textile Fragment Collection
4th-6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £494
Mixed group, mainly decorative elements (clavi, orbiculi, tabulae) from various tunics made in late Antiquity; decoration partly figural (animals and mythical hybrid creatures, mostly in a separate tondo or panel) and partly ornamental (interlace patterns, lozenges, pomegranate borders, chevrons, heart-shaped leaves). 450 grams total, 12.5-65.5 cm
with Christie's London, 27 April 1976, no.91 & 92. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00136676. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
