Another popular sexual innuendo in the albums. The motif is seemingly restricted to the Germanic area, but the foxtail is a very common phallic symbol, doubtless assisted by the fact that the fox’s tail is called Rute, a word which is also used for ‘penis’ at this period in German — but, then, the ‘tail’ word is frequently used in this sense in many vernaculars — the question is, rather, why that of the fox ? Presumably on account of its particularly large and prominent tail in comparison to the size of its body. But, of course, the animal is proverbial for his slyness and cunning, and the beast-epic hero Reynard, an unconscionable rapist to boot. For the curious pseudo-punishment of being beaten with a foxtail [flap with a foxtail is the English phrase] — evidently felt as particularly demeaning — see my https://www.academia.edu/51425337/Fiddlers_on_the_Roof_and_Friars_with_Foxtails_David_Teniers_Netherlandish_Proverbs_1646_7_

[The only significant discussion of the present specific, foxtail-through-woman’s-legs motif, that I have found to date is by Bretscher, “Die Dame mit dem Fuchs als heraldische Begleitsfigur” in Archive Heraldiques Suisses 97 (1983).]

The motif evidently existed before the albums came into being, and the earliest example known to me appears on a glass pane painted c.1550 in Uberlingen (see below), but the evident sexual innuendo is already present in this South German drawing of c.1530.

The seated young woman whose fingers appear to be nibbled by the fox says, Fuchsle bescher mir dein schwenzle [Foxy, make me a present of your little tail]. As in many other vernaculars, the ‘tail’ word is a common euphemism for penis.

The earliest example of the motif in the albums I have noticed to date is a fully clothed woman painted in 1575 in the Welser abum which, according to the invaluable online Repertorium Alborum Amicorum, is still in the possession of the Welser family. (I owe this image to the Salzburg Institut fur Realienkunde website)

Ostensibly a hunting scene, the huntsman’s two hounds are chasing the fox which runs through the lady’s legs who lifts up her skirt with one hand to allow it passage, fully exposing her bare leg, while her other hand grips the tip of the foxtail. Contemporary (c.1580) is a similar foxhunting scene in the album of Christen Holck (now in Copenhagen), though here the lady who grasps the tip of the foxtail is entirely naked — but for a hat! There must surely be contemporary literary reflexes of this erotic metaphor but I have yet to notice one. (Readers, please?!)

The motif is fond in other media too, of course, such as the glass jug dated 1572 in the MAK

The motif seems to have been particularly popular amongst glass-painters:

In the 17C the motif is to be found in an increasing range of media, as one of the numerous ‘Schnacken’ painted on ceilings (see Wroclaw ceiling detail below), and engraved on items of wood, metal (including a ‘chastity-belt’, if not a 19C fake — SEE BELOW), and glassware — including the remarkable Getty Stangenglas on which it features with similar ‘erotic’ motifs. It is also in the 17C that it is taken up by the print-books and single-sheet prints.

18C examples of the motif

Fox & Griffin combo

A sophistication of our motif adds a griffin to the scene. The design for this shooting-target painted in 1629 in the Coburger Scheibenbuch is the earliest example known to me. The verse: sol ich mich nicht verwundern / Greuff oben vnd fuchsz Vnden. / nun scwebt greuff in der Lufft / Vnd fuchsz in der glufft. [Should I not be amazed, griffin above and fox below. Now griffin hovers in the air and fox in the cleft].