FIGURINE

A complete lead alloy anthropomorphic priapic figurine of probable Roman date. The figurine is roughly cast in a two-piece mould resulting in a three-dimensional representation of a male. The figure depicts a naked male wearing a hat, probaly a phrygian cap, with the facial features being poorly represented but the nose identifiable. The male's arms extend down and across his body to hold the erect phallus. The phallus and testicles are exaggerated compared to the rest of the body; the legs of the figurine are short and possibly incomplete. The reverse is more poorly moulded than the front although the cap, shoulders and buttocks are discernable.

A small number of these probable fertility figurines have been found in Britain but are more common on the Continent. The phallus / male genitals are seen as being a symbol of strength; similar figurines have been discovered in votive contexts. Several have been recorded on this database (see SWYOR-1AF5B1, BH-712AC1, LEIC-C96B33, HESH-A1B593 YORYM-B3FE27 and LVPL-D9A6B5), however only one other wears a phrygian cap (see SWYOR-A153A2). This latter example is made from copper alloy and is much better cast than the lead example recorded here. Similar figurines are also known from the post-medieval period (see for example HESH-8B59A3 and HESH-7BC7A3), in which the recorder suggests that "these figures are possibly a satirical representation of clowns and are sometimes referred to as 'Merry Andrew' figures". However the example recorded here is of Roman date.