Were condoms used for more than just contraception 200 years ago? Men’s vanity was hidden behind it!

The Rijksmuseum of the Netherlands recently exhibited a special exhibit that combines art and the culture of Amsterdam’s red light district: a nearly 200-year-old condom with erotic patterns on it.

Condoms from a 19th- century brothel become museum exhibits!

The museum said in a statement that the condom, believed to have been made in the 1830s, is made from sheep’s cecum and is about 20 centimeters long. It may have come from a high-end brothel in France. Before the invention of vulcanized rubber in 1839, condoms were mainly made of linen, animal membranes, and even tortoise shells, but their effectiveness in preventing sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy was limited.

The condom was sold at auction in November 2024 for €1,000 (approximately NT$35,000) and is now part of the museum’s latest exhibition, “Safe Sex?”, which opened this week and runs until the end of November. The exhibition focuses on the sex trade and sexual health in the 19th century.

Museum curator Joyce Zelen explained that in the 1830s, when this condom was first introduced, condom use was still heavily criticized by society and the church. Therefore, condoms were often sold clandestinely in brothels and barbershops, with a few high-end shops offering custom-made services.

Erotic illustrations and mythological allusions of condoms are used to highlight masculinity

The condom, likely a souvenir from the former brothel, features an erotic depiction of a nun and three priests. The phrase ” C’est mon choix” ( This is my choice ) is also written in French.

Museum curator Joyce Zelen explained that the illustration’s composition pays homage to the famous French painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s “The Judgment of Paris.” The Greek myth depicts the Trojan prince Paris choosing the most beautiful of three goddesses. Because the condom’s design is artistically valuable, the museum believes the owner was a well-educated and cultured individual.

Could this condom have served more than just a practical purpose, perhaps even satisfying the male patron’s vanity? The intricate patterns and mythological connotations on the condom highlight its artistic value, signifying the owner’s cultural taste. Furthermore, the story depicted in the pattern and the words “This is my choice” further allude to the sexual allure and allure of men being chosen by women. Thus, this condom symbolized the male patron’s status and allure, serving as a promotional souvenir for brothels at the time, serving as an advertising tool.