Description:

Roman-controlled Egypt, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A miniscule yet highly symbolic mold-formed faience pendant of a pale blue hue depicting a votive phallus and testes. The phallus is of a petite size, representative of intelligence in antiquity, and rests against a groove in-between the sagging testicles. A wide modern 18 karat gold suspension loop is fed through a small lateral perforation through the top of the pendant, and a smaller loop is attached above. A leather necklace cord enables the pendant to be worn. Phalluses are common Roman symbols and, when depicted in disembodied forms like this, were used as what Pliny wrote of as a "medicus invitae" to ward against the evil eye. Size (pendant): 0.875" H (2.2 cm); size (necklace): 14.5" H (36.8 cm); total weight (pendant and gold components): 2.8 grams; quality of modern gold: 18 karat.

Provenance: ex-private Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA collection

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#138142

  • Condition: Pendant has some light surface roughness and abrasions commensurate with age, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits throughout. Gold ring and cord are modern.

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November 29, 2018 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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