Overview

• The condom dates to around 1830 and is crafted from sheep intestine, highlighting its rarity.
• An explicit drawing depicts a nun seated before three clergy members in a scene interpreted as a parody of Catholic celibacy.
• Museum experts believe the artifact served as a brothel souvenir and note it is one of only two such specimens known to survive.
• The piece is on display in the Rijksmuseum’s exhibition on 19th-century sexuality and prostitution, running through November 2025.
• Curators say the display underscores both playful and serious facets of historical sexual health, from erotic freedom to fears of venereal disease and unwanted pregnancy.