19th-Century Condom Showcased at Dutch Museum, Sporting Erotic Carving
Scandalous 19th-Century Souvenir Hits the Museum Scene
Get a load of this erotic 1830s condom at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam! Don't freak out, this bad boy won't be popping up in your bedroom anytime soon. It's merely a fascinating artifact from a 'bizarre brothel souvenir' era.
Believed to be crafted from a sheep's appendix (yep, you read that right), this piece of history boasts an etching of a nun and three priestly gentlemen in an, ahem, compromising position. Joyce Zelen, our curator of naughty prints at the museum, says it's a wonder this relic hasn't seen action, with UV testing proving its cherry status.
This condom, with an impressive length of 7.9 inches, was probably more of a conversation starter back in the day than a practical item. "It makes it more of an object to laugh about with your friends than an actual object to use," quips Zelen.
A bit of background: these chuckle-inducing keepsakes were discreetly sold under the counter in the 19th century, according to Joyce Zelen. The erotic print and its extended length suggest this particular trinket was a status symbol from a swanky brothel.
In the raunchy etching, the nun's legs are spread wide as the clergymen brandish their... assets proudly. The cheeky inscription "Voilà mon choix" translates to 'This is my choice,' making the print a hilarious parody of both celibacy and the "Judgement of Paris" from Greek mythology.
So just how were these sexy sheaths created a couple centuries ago? The printmaker would stretch out a sheep or goat's innards flat and use a copper plate adorned with the etching to press the design onto the membrane.
While this freaky piece would hardly pass for practical use, similar materials were used in the creation of less glamorous 19th-century condoms. Interestingly, these ding-a-ling doodads, though offering some protection from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, were hardly a match for the reliability of modern-day condoms. The Rijksmuseum's oddball artifact will be on display through November as part of an exhibit on 19th-century prostitution and sexuality.
Oh, and did you hear about that blockbuster show the Rijksmuseum organized featuring the largest ever collection of Vermeer paintings? The Dutch had quite a knack for unwinding amidst art and scandal!
Enrichment Notes:
- In the 19th century, condoms were primarily constructed using animal intestines like sheep or goat intestines, which were thoroughly cleaned and dried before being formed into sheaths. Unlike modern condoms made from materials such as latex, they lacked durability and were susceptible to tears.
- Despite their limited effectiveness, these silly sheaths were used as souvenirs rather than for their intended purpose due to their odd designs and questionable condition.
- These condoms provided some protection against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, including syphilis, but were not as effective as modern condoms due to the potential for tears and porosity.
The scandalous 19th-century souvenir has made its way to the fashion-and-beauty section of pop-culture discussions, as the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam exhibits an erotic 1830s condom, crafted from a sheep's appendix, as part of an exhibit on 19th-century lifestyle and sexuality. This unusual artifact, with an etching of a risqué scene, was more of a conversation starter in its time, rather than a practical item.
