German, 16th century

Christie's London, 15 July 1986, lot 30

There is splitting to the ivory throughout, consistent with the material, with dark dirt in the splits. The figure is reattached to the base and is slightly unstable on the base. The front section of his proper right foot, proper left heel and proper right arm were replaced and coloured t match the rest of the ivory. There are a number of small losses, including several beads from the necklace (mostly to the back on the proper right side), and sections of the bow string. Three of the fingers on the proper right hand are lost. There are chips and abrasions to the edges and corners of the shield. There are a few small losses to some of the locks of hair. There are losses to the ends of some of the arrows in the quiver. Otherwise the condition of the ivory is good with general wear due to age.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The present ivory figure of a naked boy functioned as a talismanic figure of fertility, which could not only protect a woman but also regulate her fertility and even the gender of her children. There are many variations on the visual reference to such symbolic naked boys, one of which was the representation of naked and cavorting boys on the back of birth trays and bowls. Through the dispersal of such birthing items, these visual references spread throughout Western Europe.  

The iconography as one finds on both birthing trays and the present ivory figure, can be explained by the fact that the act of urinating was likely to be interpreted as a sign of fecundity and prosperity, as an inscription on a wooden tray by Bartolomeo di Fruisino has suggested.

Further symbolic reference points within the present ivory are the shield on the ground next to his feet, the psychical proximity to heraldic devices making a deliberate link between fertility and lineage, and the necklace which hangs from the boy’s neck. This necklace echoes the coral necklaces and bracelets worn by similar figures on birthing objects, which was thought to ward away evil.

RELATED LITERATURE
L.B. Kanter et al., Painting and illumination in early Renaissance Florence, 1300-1450, exh. cat. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1994; J.M. Musacchio, The Art and Ritual of Childbirth, New Haven, 1999.