One of the most famous museums in the Netherlands, the Rijksmuseum (National Museum) in Amsterdam, has just surprised the public by adding to its collection a condom that is nearly 200 years old.
According to The Telegraph, this unique artifact is displayed in the exhibition “Safe sex?” (Safe sex) revolving around sex life and prostitution in the 19th century.
According to researchers, this condom appeared around 1830, most likely made from the appendix of animals such as sheep or goats – a popular material of that period. But what makes this artifact really stand out is the motif: a funny engraving, full of the satirical spirit of the time.
The painting depicts a woman pointing at three men, with the French words “Voila, mon choix” – roughly translated: “This is my choice!”.
According to the museum, the artifact may be a unique souvenir from the high-class brothels of the past that is more symbolic than actually used. There are only two artifacts of the same type known to exist in the world today.
This special condom was bought at an auction in Haarlem (Netherlands) for 1,000 euros (nearly 30 million VND). Ms. Joyce Zelen – curator of the print collection, shared with Het Parool newspaper: “In the past 20 years, condoms with such prints have been sold for much higher prices. I think this item is lost among more than 6,000 auctioned artifacts, only people with a really sharp eye can recognize its value”.
In addition to its unique aesthetic, the museum plans to conduct DNA analysis to determine exactly which animal the material used to make the object came from.
“Owning this object allows us to tell a little-known part of history. It is the story of sexual life and reproductive health in the 19th century. It reflects both the bright and dark sides of the search for pleasure, when the fear of disease, especially syphilis, still prevailed at that time,” the Rijksmuseum added.
At that time, condoms were mainly used for disease prevention rather than contraception, because family planning methods were still taboo. However, humans have been constantly looking for ways to protect reproductive health for thousands of years. From ancient Egypt with linen sheaths, to the use of fish bladders, animal intestines, leather… and after 1839, the world began to get acquainted with real condoms, thanks to the invention of the rubber vulcanization process.
The exhibition “Safe sex?” at the Rijksmuseum will run until the end of November this year, providing a gentle but profound perspective on the history of sex, a topic as old as the Earth but never out of date.