Kunst & Kunsthandwerk, Antiken

118 | A Roman implement handle with a grotesque figure of Priapus fully sculptured in bone, 2nd - 3rd century B.C. The figure of an elderly, virtually bald Pria- pus carved in bone, his extremely oversized phallus dangling down. The head extending directly from the thickset body. The face is carved in great detail: the pupils are directed to the right, the two enormous nostrils lie above the closed mouth, while the right ear- lobe has been pierced. Both hands are placed on his bulging belly, pointing towards his gigantic member. The old man’s legs are con- siderably shortened; his left leg is bent at an angle, resting on the pedestal, shaped like a footstool. In contrast to the stumpy legs, the hugely enlarged phallus descends to form an additional support post, along with the testi- cles behind it. An openwork area between the legs. The oval base has an aperture in the centre to accommodate the shaft of an imple- ment, e.g. a knife or dagger. At the same time, the base has four perforations on the side to fasten the handle with additional pins. The base and lower section of the legs and phallus with traces of greenish discolouration. Other- wise in excellent condition. Length 11.4 cm. Priapus, the mythical son of Dionysus, the god of wine and Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was cursed by Hera and deformed as a result. He is depicted in art with his characteristic at- tribute of an oversized phallus. It symbolises the central aspect of his cult, which had spread throughout the entire empire during the Ro- man era: the blessing of fertility. P rovenance : From a private collection in South Germany. Acquired on the art market and from private German collections in the 1970s and 1980s. 255873 II € 10.000