A pair of corbels with audacious subjects from the Middle Ages

Origin : Normandy or Northern France
Period : 15th century

- The man with curly hair plays the flute with his penis in his hands
Height : 30 cm
Length : 27.5 cm
Depth : 24 cm

- The man with his finger in his nose is wearing a fool's cap
Height : 30 cm
Length : 22.5 cm
Depth : 29 cm


History of corbeau

Corbels are employed in Romanesque buildings to support shelves or ledges banners. They are decorated with simple trim, or they offer allegorical sculptures of pure fantasy.

After the 13th century, corbels disappear from ledges and are used only to support balconies, bay windows, battlements, frames or girder floors. In Gothic architecture, richly decorated corbels supported lintels of important gates.