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LOT 0477
Romano-Egyptian Limestone Figure of a Seated Male with Gigantic Phallus
1ST CENTURY B.C.-2ND CENTURY A.D.
4 in. (5 in.) (207 grams, 10.1 cm (235 grams total, 12.8 cm including stand)).
Modelled in the round seated figure with phallus slung over his shoulders; mounted on a custom-made stand. [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.
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.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0477
Romano-Egyptian Limestone Figure of a Seated Male with Gigantic Phallus
Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
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Egyptian Rock Crystal Heart Scarab
Late Period, 664-342 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £975
Carved in the round with ribbed loop to the underside, carapace and leg detailing. 8.72 grams, 25 mm
From a London and Home Counties collection, 1920-1940. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
Naturalistic scarabs carved in the round are characteristic of the Late Period and were crafted from various stones, including lapis lazuli, feldspar, carnelian, and rock crystal, as exemplified here. These scarabs were attached to the wrappings of a mummy, positioned over areas of the body such as the chest, neck, and hands. -
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. -
Romano-Egyptian Terracotta Figurine with Large Phallus and Apotropaic Eye
1st century B.C.-2nd century A.D.Estimate: £300 - 400 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £135
Representing a slave or a dwarf in a crouched position, dressed in a short tunic leaving the left shoulder uncovered (exomis), a large curving phallus emerging from underneath the tunic topped with a large apotropaic eye; accompanied by a display stand. 64 grams, 81 mm (80 grams total, 10 cm high including stand)
The 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.
Except for the enormous phallus, the figure is human in all aspects. The apotropaic aspect, symbolised also by the eye, is combined with the erotic. It should be pointed out that according to the physiognomic conceptions held in the ancient world, from the 4th century B.C. onwards, small-scale sculptures developed a rich repertoire of grotesque types. These so-called grotesques were a development of the Hellenistic interest in the human body and its imperfections. They range from representations of individuals with clinically diagnosable disfigurements to those with exaggerated physical features. 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 because the more beggars an event attracted, the greater the fortune of the event organizer. 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.