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Rijksmuseum Displays Rare 19th-Century Condom Featuring Erotic Clerical Etching

Believed to be a luxury brothel souvenir made from sheep’s gut, the piece illustrates 19th-century intersections of erotic art with early contraception.

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The condom is part of an exhibit on 19th century prostitution and sexuality.
1. Anonymous, Condom with print, c. 1830. Acquired through the F.G. Waller Fonds
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Overview

  • One of only two such objects known to survive, the 20cm sheep-gut sheath was acquired at a Haarlem auction last November for €1,000.
  • UV tests reveal the piece remains unused, underlining its role as a luxury brothel souvenir rather than a practical contraceptive.
  • The etching depicts a nun pointing at three clergymen with erect genitals and the inscription “Voilà mon choix.”
  • Curator Joyce Zelen describes the image as a parody of both clerical celibacy and the Judgement of Paris myth.
  • It serves as the centerpiece of the Rijksmuseum’s Safe Sex? exhibition on 19th-century prostitution, sexuality and early contraceptive methods, running until November 2025.