LOT 2685

Haniwa Terracotta Figurine of a Man

6TH CENTURY A.D.

7 3/4 in. (315 grams, 19.5 cm).

A hollow, tubular-shaped body; an oval head with incised almond-shaped eyes and an oval mouth, a raised rectangular nose, discoid earrings; broad shoulders with D-section arms, an applied, erect phallus to the pelvic area; with an old handwritten label reading 'R. LA PLANA (IBIZA): Idolo de barro cocido con el sexo marcado'; three holes to the body.

On the back an old label 'Illa Plana (Ibiza) / Idolo de Barro Cocido / Con el Sexo Marcado / n'2'.
Ex Jean-Marie Talleux, Grand Fort Philippe, France.
Consigned at Drouot Auction, Paris, 6 December 1995, no.63.
Ex The Erotica Collection of Christian von Faber-Castell, Kusnacht, Switzerland.
with Cahn Auktionen AG, Basel, 9 November 13, no.5.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13485-263104.

Cf. Minneapolis Institute of Art, item no.97.38; Asian Art Museum, item no.B80S2.

Haniwa are terracotta figures crafted for ritual purposes to be buried alongside the dead, together with other funerary objects, and were used primarily during the Kofun period (3rd–6th century) in Japan. Thanks to the discovery of these statues, we possess detailed knowledge of the weapons and armour of the warrior caste that emerged during this specific period of Japanese history. Phallic statuettes are rare, but have been found in locations like Gunma Prefecture.