Greek Rhodian terracotta Silenus figure, ex. Faber-Castell
G85£450.00
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A hollow moulded terracotta figure of a squatting satyr or Silenus displaying an erect phallus. The front of the figure retains traces of pink pigment decoration.
Silenus was a companion and tutor to the wine god Dionysus. He was typically depicted older than the satyrs of the Dionysian retinue (thiasos), and is thought to be differentiated from a satyr by having the attributes of a horse rather than a goat (in this case distinguished by the tall ears). Silenus presided over other daimons and was linked to musical creativity, prophetic ecstasy, drunken joy, drunken dances and gestures.
Culture
East Greek, Rhodes, end of 6th Century BC
Size
9.1 x 4.5 cms
Condition
Intact as shown
Provenance
Ex. The Erotica Collection of Christian von Faber-Castell, Switzerland; acquired late 1970’s. With Charles Ede Ltd, London, 1999. With Jean-David Cahn, Switzerland, 2014 (Cahn Auktionen AG, No. 9, lot 103). Ex. Dr Gerhard Miksche, Huddinge, Sweden, and by family descent since 2014. A photocopy of the 2014 Cahn auction receipt (with illustration) accompanies the figure. Black ink inscription “CFC” under the base.
As a member of the aristocratic industrialist Faber-Castell family, Christian was able to collect from a young age and his antiquities were displayed at various times in German and Swiss museums before the collection was dispersed.
A number of similar terracottas are in the British Museum, for example:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1865-0720-40
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1864-1007-138?selectedImageId=1613160145
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/G_1864-1007-141?selectedImageId=1613160150