A ceramic fertility talisman in the form of a phallus, Near East, 13th century or later

Please note that there may be restrictions on the import of property of Syrian origin into the United States. Any buyers planning to import property of Syrian origin should satisfy themselves of the relevant import regime with the country of destination. Sotheby's will not assist buyers with the shipment of such items into the USA. In addition, Fedex and US courier services will no longer carry Syrian-origin goods to any location. Any shipment services would need to be provided by a Fine Art shipping company.

Spink & Son, London.

Vessels in the form of a phallus are known since antiquity. Roman, Ptolemaic and Archaic Greek pottery examples are particularly inventive, see examples in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, inv. no.1999.78; the Wellcome Collection, London, inv. no.A636856, 2730/1936, and the British Museum, London, inv. no.GR2011,5010.7. It is noted that some of these stored perfumed oils, most probably for medicinal or erotic usage. The glaze and iridescence of the present example suggests a Near Eastern attribution, possibly Syria. A fertility talisman attributed to Syria, circa thirteenth century was sold in these rooms, 1000 Ways of Seeing: The Private Collection of the late Stanley J. Seeger, London, 5-6 March 2014, lot 422.