200-year-old condom goes on display at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum
The Netherlands' national museum has a new object on display that merges art with Amsterdam's infamous Red Light District: a nearly 200-year-old condom, emblazoned with erotic art.
The Rijksmuseum said in a statement that the playful prophylactic, believed to be made around 1830 from a sheep's appendix, 'depicts both the playful and the serious side of sexual health'.
It is part of an exhibition called Safe Sex? about 19th century sex work that opened on Tuesday.
The condom, possibly a souvenir from a brothel, is decorated with an erotic image of a nun and three clergymen.
The phrase 'This is my choice' is written along the sheath in French.
According to the museum, this is a reference to the Pierre-Auguste Renoir painting The Judgment of Paris, which depicts the Trojan prince Paris judging a beauty contest between three goddesses.
The condom is on display until the end of November.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
LaKoradior Haute Couture Shines at the 78th Cannes Film Festival Red Carpet
Three International Female Leaders Redefine Haute Couture Aesthetics Paris, France--(Newsfile Corp. - June 5, 2025) - At the 78th Cannes Film Festival, LaKoradior Haute Couture commanded global attention as Hollywood actress Arielle Raycene, supermodel Patricia Contreras, and entrepreneur-fashion influencer Jenny Gordienko unveiled the brand's 2025 collection on the red carpet. Their looks—ranging from gilded elegance to sustainable poetry—cemented LaKoradior's status as this year's haute couture tour de force. Stellar Moments: Three Leading Women on the Red Carpet Arielle Raycene: The Golden Multihyphenate of Hollywood As an actress, theatrical performer, and tech entrepreneur, Arielle Raycene appeared on the red carpet in a champagne-gold haute couture gown. Adorned with hand-embroidered metallic threads that shimmered like liquid gold under the sunlight, the dress mirrored her multifaceted career. A prodigious talent who earned her SAG membership at just three years old, Raycene chose LaKoradior to express her philosophy: "True luxury lies in fearless reinvention." Arielle Raycene Patricia Contreras: A Transcontinental Fashion Icon Italian-Mexican supermodel and actress Patricia Contreras stunned in a violet mermaid gown inspired by orchid petals. Meticulously handcrafted with gradient silk threads, the dress showcased three-dimensional embroidery with Eastern elegance. A muse for brands like Armani and Balmain, and winner of Cannes' 2019 "Best Lifestyle Influencer" award, Contreras remarked, "Wearing this gown felt like dancing with centuries of artisanal heritage." Patricia Contreras Jenny Gordienko: Where Fashion Meets Influence Forbes-recognized "Top Influencer Marketing Expert" Jenny Gordienko opted for an aqua-blue haute couture gown with wave-like pleats, reflecting her commitment to sustainable fashion. As a TEDx speaker and founder of educational initiatives, she stated, "Fashion is the ultimate medium for cross-cultural dialogue." Jenny Gordienko LaKoradior's Cannes Moment: Global Resonance of Haute Couture The trio's red carpet looks sparked immediate international media frenzy, proving that "LaKoradior doesn't just dress stars—it redefines the language of the red carpet." Behind this success stood global fashion catalyst CrossMode and its visionary approach. Creative Director Mei Zhan noted, "Our mission is to create alchemy between traditional craftsmanship and modern icons. Cannes isn't just a showcase—it's a dialogue with history." About LaKoradior Haute Couture LaKoradior merges architectural precision with poetic fluidity, crafting bespoke creations for business leaders and silver-screen legends. Each collection serves as wearable art, preserving vanishing artisanal techniques through collaborations with master workshops. Contact:LaKoradior Haute CoutureMei Zhanpr@ To view the source version of this press release, please visit Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data


New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
French Open 2025 live updates: Semifinals latest with Swiatek, Gauff, Sabalenka and Boisson in action today
Today's French Open action starts at 12 p.m. local time in Paris (CET). That is the mixed doubles final between USA's Taylor Townsend and Evan King and Italy's Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori. As for the women's singles semifinals, that will take place on Court Philippe-Chatrier once that final concludes — no earlier than 3.15pm in Paris (CET). That is 2.15p.m. for those of you in the UK, while for anyone tuning in Stateside it is 9.15 a.m. ET and 6.15 a.m. PT.


Vogue
2 hours ago
- Vogue
Now You Can Own the Original Birkin Bag
If you thought the Himalaya Birkin is the rarest bag on Earth, think again. The prototype of the now-iconic Hermès purse, custom-made for its namesake, Jane Birkin, is up for auction for the first time in 25 years, hitting the Sotheby's block on July 10. The Birkin was created especially for the on-the-go actor and singer in 1984, after she told Jean-Louis Dumas that she needed a bag that accommodated her hectic everyday life. 'I think I drew it on the sick bag—or the not-be-sick bag. And [Dumas] said 'I'll make it for you',' Birkin told Vogue from the front row of Hermès's fall 2012 show. Jane Birkin at Jean Paul Gaultier's spring 2005 show. Michel Dufour The original Birkin bag, which will be auctioned by Sotheby's on July 10. Birkin, who died in 2023, donated the original purse in 1994 to benefit the French AIDS charity, Association Solidarité Sida. It was purchased again in 2000 by Catherine Benier, a Paris-based collector and vintage store owner. Sotheby's sent the bag on a world tour ahead of its impending sale, displaying it in their Paris and Hong Kong maisons. Benier also previously lent it out for exhibitions at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Now it has returned to New York, and will be viewable at the auction house's galleries from today through June 12.