Paul McCarthy's Santa Octopussy is to headline an auction of erotica at Auctionata in Paris.

The lot will cross the block on August 27 with an opening bid of $30,000.

Santa Octopussy is typical of Paul McCarthy's work

McCarthy is best known for his infamous "Christmas Tree", which was unveiled in the centre of Paris in October last year.

The sculpture, which resembled a giant inflatable green butt plug, infuriated the right wing press.

At its opening an enraged protester slapped McCarthy in the face. Vandals later deflated the sculpture and McCarthy decided against resurrecting it.

Auctionata explains that the present lot is "designed as an abstracted sex toy with Santa Claus heads,", adding "Paul McCarthy's 'Santa Octopussy' comes from a series of small, unique tabletop-sized phallic sculptures produced to sit atop a crate.

"Like his infamous butt plugs, this series of works began as a joke."

An untitled collage by Keith Haring is also on offer, with a starting bid of $18,000.

The lot is one of a lesser known series of works by Haring that incorporate photographs by Herb Ritts.

It was given to Ritts as a gift and features a dedication on the reverse.

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