The "Leckarsch from Kranichfeld"

The "Leckarsch from Kranichfeld" as a figurine.

This intricately detailed figurine depicts the famous "Leckarsch von Kranichfeld" – an explicit medieval cock-sucker motif from the late Middle Ages with historical roots.

The original "Leckarsch von Kranichfeld" is a medieval stone carving, clearly visible at a lofty height on the upper castle of the village of Kranichfeld and dating from 1530.

Link to the historical model...

The "Leckarsch von Kranichfeld" is part of a whole tradition of medieval depictions that were crude, humorous and at the same time symbolically charged, and can still be found today on churches, town halls, castles and city gates.

There is also a very similar drollery on Cologne City Hall, which shows the same explicit depiction as the Leckarsch von Kranichfeld. Like this one, the figure is obviously busy with something other than licking his own backside...

An expressive accessory for medieval enthusiasts, art lovers and people with a taste for the unusual – a piece of living cultural history.

As a palm stone, paperweight on your desk or edge stool on a shelf, monitor or mantelpiece, it is guaranteed to attract attention and bring a piece of medieval humour into your home.

The figurine has a hole in the middle so that the "Leckarsch" can also be hung up with a ribbon in a suitable place, with its bottom demonstratively pointing upwards.

The "Leckarsch" measures 3.5 × 3.2 × 2 cm and is made of a zamak zinc alloy in antique brass or antique silver.

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According to legend, the figure dates back to a dispute between two brothers, Wolfer and Lutger. The older brother, Wolfer, received the castle, but the younger brother, Lutger, swore that he would one day return and build his own castle right under his brother's nose – today's Niederburg Castle in Kranichfeld.

Wolfer is said to have replied scornfully: "If you succeed, I'll lick my arse." But Lutger returned, built his castle and made his brother keep his word, whereby he apparently contorted himself so much that he fell and fatally injured himself.

In memory of this event, Lutger had his brother Wolfer immortalised in stone as a memorial at the Kranichfeld Upper Castle. A reminder that one should not quarrel and certainly not make rash promises in the heat of the moment.