A condom which is not only 200 years old but once a ‘memory’ of a luxury French brothel, has now become ‘art’ in the world’s most prestigious museum. In a special exhibition that began this week at Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, this condom is kept as a centerpiece inside the glass case. The interesting thing is that it is not a modern condom made of plastic or rubber, but around 1830. It was probably prepared from the sheep intestine.
Where did this ‘memento’ come from?This condom was purchased in November last year during an auction in Harlem city of the Netherlands. The price was 1000 euros (about 90,000 rupees). It is believed that it has come from a high-end French brothel, perhaps Paris. At that time it was given to customers like ‘Luxury Sovereign’.
It has been made a very strange but detailed erotic ilastation – in which a half -handed nun is standing in front of three priests and pointing to their genitals. Below is written in French – ‘Voila, Mon Choix’ means ‘Look, this is my choice’.
Is there really art or just a tanj?
Rijksmuseum’s curator Joyce Jelane says that this Illustration refers to the story of Greek Mythology in which Trojan Prince chooses the most beautiful of the three ladies during the ‘Judgment of Paris’. That is, the person who had bought this condom, he might have been educated and interested in art.
Safe sex? Centenary satire?
This condom is now a small but bold exhibition of Rijksmuseum ‘Safe Sex?’ It is part of, in which prints and drawings reflecting the perspective of sex work, sexual health and sex in ancient European society. In the 19th century Europe, churches and society saw condoms as a crime. Even though diseases like syphilis were spreading rapidly at that time, but condoms were used to hide – that too in the closet or barber shops. According to some reports, ‘Besk’ condoms were also made in some rich shops.
Did it ever be used or not?
Researchers suspect scanning with UV lights that this condom was never used. Its length is about 20 centimeters and was designed like a ‘promotional sovereign’ so that the buyer feels ‘special’.
Joyce Jelane says, ‘Nun is pointing to which pastor, it is not clear. Some are bald, some thin, some thick. Perhaps this was the purpose – every kind of man felt that it is made for them only.
