2 days ago
Last Updated:June 04, 2025, 19:06 IST
Joyce Zelen, curator of prints at the Rijksmuseum, said that ultraviolet testing confirmed that the condom had never been used.
Rijksmuseum curator Joyce Zelen said the composition of the etching alluded to the Greek myth of the Judgment of Paris. (Image Credit: AFP)
A rare 19th-century condom made from a sheep’s appendix and printed with an explicit image is now on public display for the first time at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The unusual object, believed to be a luxury brothel souvenir from the 1830s, is the centerpiece of a new exhibition exploring sex, health and satire in the 19th century.
Joyce Zelen, curator of prints at the Rijksmuseum, said that ultraviolet testing confirmed it had never been used. Printed on the flattened intestine of a sheep or goat using a copper plate, the image on the condom shows a nun with her legs open, surrounded by three clergymen lifting their robes to reveal erections. Below the scene is the caption in French: “Voila mon choix" (“This is my choice").
Joyce Zelen told CNN, “This is more an object to laugh about with friends than one meant for use." She added that the imagery parodies religious celibacy while referencing the Judgment of Paris from Greek mythology.
Condoms like this were part of a booming 19th-century trade. At the time, such items offered limited protection against sexually transmitted infections, especially syphilis- a widespread health threat at the time.
“This was probably made for someone who appreciated both erotic humor and classical references," Joyce Zelen said.
The Rijksmuseum purchased the condom for €1,000 (about ₹98,000) at an auction in Haarlem six months ago.
“The hardest part was deciding who would call the boss to ask permission to buy a condom," Joyce Zelen joked. The condom is now featured in the museum’s new exhibition “Safe Sex?", which explores 19th-century perspectives on prostitution, desire and disease. It will remain on view in the Rijksmuseum’s Print Room until the end of November.
When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?"
When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?"
Amsterdam, Netherlands
First Published:News world 200-Year-Old Condom Featuring Erotic Art Displayed In Dutch Museum: 'Object To Laugh At...'
