Published to coincide with an exhibition at the British Museum, this book tells the story of the "great toes", phallic atefacts collected from Isernia, a remote town in southern Italy, and brought to London by Sir William Hamilton in 1784. From this event the book expands to consider the intellectual background to Hamilton's discovery and the discussion that developed, both in London and Italy, about the role of phallic simulacra in primitive religion, classical art and popular medicine. The text comments on the ...
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Published to coincide with an exhibition at the British Museum, this book tells the story of the "great toes", phallic atefacts collected from Isernia, a remote town in southern Italy, and brought to London by Sir William Hamilton in 1784. From this event the book expands to consider the intellectual background to Hamilton's discovery and the discussion that developed, both in London and Italy, about the role of phallic simulacra in primitive religion, classical art and popular medicine. The text comments on the interpretation of sexual symbols in art and religion, the problem of visual interpretation with particluar reference to fetishism, comparative culture, and the growth of anthropological museum collections in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is aimed at anyone with an interest in cultural history, art history or aesthetics.
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Seller's Description:
1st edn. 8vo. Original gilt lettered black cloth (Fine), dustwrapper (Fine in protective cover). Pp. viii + 184, illus with b&w plates (publisher's neat pencil inscription on front endpaper).
