In brief
A nearly 200-year-old condom, claimed to be in "mint condition," is now on exhibition at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum. This artifact, dated circa 1830, is constructed from a sheep's appendix and features a striking print of a nun alongside three clergymen. Acquired at auction just last year, this condom is part of a larger exhibition focusing on 19th Century prostitution and sexuality, which includes various artworks such as prints, drawings, and photographs.
Curator Joyce Zelen recounted the amusing moment she and a colleague discovered the condom at auction. She explained that it was overlooked by others, and they proceeded to make the only bid. After inspecting the item with UV light, they confirmed its unused status and declared it "in mint condition." Since being placed on display, the museum has attracted large audiences, both young and old, with responses described as "amazing."The condom is believed to have originated as a "luxury souvenir" from an upscale French brothel, with only two others of its kind thought to have survived to date. Articulating the dualities of sexual health from that era, the Rijksmuseum highlights the condom's print reflecting societal issues around sexual desire, unwanted pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis.The explicit imagery represents humorous commentary on celibacy and mirrors the Greek myth of the Judgment of Paris. Accompanied by the inscription "Voilà mon choix" or "There is my choice," the condom encapsulates a mix of cultural critique and eroticism. Zelen pointed out that this is the first condom print included in the museum's vast collection of roughly 750,000 artworks, affirming that the Rijksmuseum prides itself on this singular artifact. She expressed openness to loaning the delicate condom to other institutions while noting it will remain on display until the end of November.
