Nude standing figure

This statuette showing a nude standing figure of a boy holding a vessel is by an unknown artist and was made in the 16th century. It was dug up near Cologne in Germany among a series of other objects.

It is of pipeclay, which is a fine white clay used to make tobacco pipes and pottery. Conveniently situated on a major trading route, Siegburg was a centre of ceramic production with well-organised workshops and kilns in which also pipe-clay figures were fired.

Conveniently situated on a major trading route, Siegburg was a centre of ceramic production with well-organised workshops and kilns in which pipe-clay figures were also fired.