Erotic furniture

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A chair designed to facilitate threesomes, exhibited in the Sex Machines Museum in Prague Sex Machines Museum Prague - Siege D'Amour.jpg
A chair designed to facilitate threesomes, exhibited in the Sex Machines Museum in Prague

Erotic furniture, also known as sex furniture, is any form of furniture that is designed to act as an aid to sexual activity. This includes furniture and harnesses designed to aid positioning, [1] assisting with comfort, penetration level and stimulation. [2] Other types of erotic furniture are constructed to be an aid to erotic bondage. The functionality may be obvious or the erotic furniture may be designed to appear as conventional furniture. [3] Some conventional items of furniture such as the four-poster bed and the chaise longue traditionally have erotic associations, [4] but they are not considered to be erotic furniture as their primary use is not erotic. Erotic furniture can also be furniture decorated with erotic art.

Contents

History

In ancient Assyria, there are examples of furniture decorated with erotic reliefs dating to the 13th century BC. [5]

According to an urban legend, the 18th-century Russian Empress Catherine the Great collected erotic furniture, including tables with penises for legs and other items carved in relief with penises and vulvas. [6]

The 1791 French novel Les Délices de Coblentz describes beds that are designed to increase sexual pleasure by virtue of the elasticity of their springs. [7]

The British king Edward VII, who was heavily overweight, used a specially constructed "love chair" (siege d'amour) when he visited the famous brothel, Le Chabanais in Paris. The piece still exists and a replica [8] is exhibited at the Musée de l'Erotisme in Pigalle. [9]

Edward Gorey's The Curious Sofa , (1961) is a neo-Victorian pseudo-porno satire described as a "pornographic illustrated story about furniture". The book consists of euphemistic illustrations with strategically deployed objects, such as potted plants and tree branches, that block the reader's view of sexual activities taking place on furniture.

The British pop artist Allen Jones has designed erotic furniture. [10] His piece Hatstand, Table and Chair , consisting of scantily clad female mannequins converted to items of furniture, was first exhibited in 1970. [11]

News reports during the 2024 Paris Olympics said that the bed bases provided for competing athletes were made from recycled cardboard to prevent them from having sex. However, the organisers said that the material was chosen for its environmental impact, and the manufacturer said they "can support several people on top". [12]

In modern times, erotic furniture continues to be produced mainly by small businesses rather than large scale manufacturers. [3]

Types

A spanking bench Spanking Bench.png
A spanking bench
Chair with a toilet seat for use in coprophagy activities, Sex Machines Museum, Prague Sex Machines Museum Prague - Coprophagy Chair.jpg
Chair with a toilet seat for use in coprophagy activities, Sex Machines Museum, Prague

Specifically designed furniture for erotic purposes can include:

See also

Related Research Articles

Bondage, in the BDSM subculture, is the practice of consensually tying, binding, or restraining a partner for erotic, aesthetic, or somatosensory stimulation. A partner may be physically restrained in a variety of ways, including the use of rope, cuffs, bondage tape, or self-adhering bandage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex toy</span> Sexual pleasure device

A sex toy is an object or device that is primarily used to facilitate sexual pleasure, such as a dildo, artificial vagina or vibrator. Many popular sex toys are designed to resemble human genitals, and may be vibrating or non-vibrating. The term sex toy can also include BDSM apparatus and sex furniture such as sex swings; however, it is not applied to items such as birth control, pornography, or condoms. Alternative terms for sex toy include adult toy and the dated euphemism marital aid. Marital aid also has a broader meaning and is applied to drugs and herbs marketed to enhance or prolong sex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butt plug</span> Sex toy that is designed to be inserted into the rectum

A butt plug is a sex toy that is designed to be inserted into the rectum for sexual pleasure. They are similar to a dildo in some ways but tend to be shorter and have a flanged end to prevent the device from being lost inside the rectum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex position</span> Position of the body used for sexual activities

A sex position is a positioning of the bodies that people use to engage in sexual intercourse or other sexual activities. Sexual acts are generally described by the positions the participants adopt in order to perform those acts. Though sexual intercourse generally involves penetration of the body of one person by another, sex positions commonly involve non-penetrative sexual activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sybian</span> Sex toy for women

A Sybian, or Sybian saddle, is a type of masturbation device, consisting of a hollow saddle-like seat containing two electric motors, motor speed controller boards, gearing, pulleys, and a platform on cranked axles such that a ridge on the top of the unit can be made to vibrate through a range of speeds as set using a wired external hand controller, and an upward-pointing shaft set on an angle through the ridge can be made to rotate at speeds of up to several hundred revolutions per minute, again by use of the wired remote control. Flexible molded attachments are usually supplied, fitting over the vibrating ridge and shaft which mostly have integrated dildos on their top. In use, the rider inserts the dildo into a body orifice for internal stimulation while applying pressure on the vibrating ridge with their external erogenous parts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of BDSM</span> Erotic practices involving domination and sadomasochism

BDSM is a variety of erotic practices involving dominance and submission, roleplaying, restraint, and other interpersonal dynamics. Given the wide range of practices, some of which may be engaged in by people who do not consider themselves as practicing BDSM, inclusion in the BDSM community or subculture is usually dependent on self-identification and shared experience. Interest in BDSM can range from one-time experimentation to a lifestyle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spreadeagle (position)</span> Body pose

The spreadeagle is the position in which a person has their arms outstretched and legs apart, figuratively resembling an eagle with wings spread. It is a style that appears commonly in nature and geometry. In human style, it is represented by the letter "X".

Erotic sexual denial is a popular form of sexual activity whereby sexual gratification for one or both partners is delayed or "denied" sexual experiences in order to increase erotic arousal and/or tension. It is commonly used as sex play within the context of a mild dominance and submission relationship, though it can also be a solo practice. When used in the context of dominance and submission, the dominant partner is often encouraged to prioritize their own sexual pleasure over that of their submissive partner. The submissive partner receives gratification from providing sexual pleasure to their partner and from the feelings of vulnerability and tension that come from having their own sexual pleasure controlled by another. The prohibited sexual experience can be narrowly or broadly defined for a specific or indeterminate length of time, depending on the practitioner. The experience withheld can be any favored or desired sexual activities, such as specific acts or positions, provided it is something the practitioner wants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cock and ball torture</span> Form of sexual play

Cock and ball torture (CBT) is a sexual activity involving the application of pain or constriction to the male genitals. This may involve directly painful activities, such as genital piercing, wax play, genital spanking, squeezing, ball-busting, genital flogging, urethral play, tickle torture, erotic electrostimulation, kneeing or kicking. The recipient of such activities may receive direct physical pleasure via masochism, or emotional pleasure through erotic humiliation, or knowledge that the play is pleasing to a sadistic dominant. Many of these practices carry significant health risks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human furniture</span> Practice in which a persons body is used as furniture

Human furniture is furniture in which a person's body is used as a tray, foot stool, chair, table, cabinet or other item. In some cases a sculpture of a human body is used instead. Examples of human furniture have appeared in modern art. Forniphilia is the paraphilia relating to human furniture, including that seen in fetish photography and bondage pornography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erotic humiliation</span> Consensual use of humiliation in a sexual context

Erotic humiliation or sexual humiliation is a consensual psychological humiliation performed in order to produce erotic excitement or sexual arousal. This can be for either the person(s) being humiliated and demeaned or the person(s) humiliating, or both. It is sometimes performed before spectators, including through pornography and webcam modeling. It may be part of BDSM and other sexual roleplay, or accompanied by the sexual stimulation of the genitals of one or both parties in the activity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strap-on dildo</span> Device used for sexual penetration or other sexual activity

A strap-on dildo is a dildo designed to be worn, usually with a harness, during sexual activity. Harnesses and dildos are made in a wide variety of styles, with variations in how the harness fits the wearer, how the dildo attaches to the harness, as well as various features intended to facilitate stimulation of the wearer or a sexual partner. Strap-on dildos are most frequently used by lesbian women, but can be used by people of any gender or sexuality.

A double penetration dildo or double dildo is a type of sex toy used for double penetration, the simultaneous entry of two body orifices at the same time, belonging to either one or two people. It is a dildo designed in the form of two penetrative stimulators that are either separate or fixed on a single shaft. Some double penetration dildos include a vibrating motor that allows them to be used as double penetration vibrators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dildo</span> Sex toy, often phallic

A dildo is a sex toy, often explicitly phallic in appearance, intended for sexual penetration or other sexual activity during masturbation or with sex partners. Dildos can be made from a number of materials and shaped similarly to an erect human penis. They are typically about the average length of an erect penis, 4–6 inches (10–15 cm), but some may be longer. A dildo's circumference is typically 4–5 inches (10–13 cm).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breast torture</span> BDSM sexual activity

Breast torture is a BDSM activity in which sexual stimulation is provided through the intentional application of physical pain or constriction to the breasts, areolae or nipples of a submissive. It is a popular activity among the kink community. The recipient of such activities may wish to receive them as a result of masochism or they may have a desire to please a dominant who is sadistic. Those involved may also be motivated by breast fetishism. Mild breast torture such as light impact play on the breasts is also occasionally used outside of the BDSM context to provide stimulation and pleasure during conventional sex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artificial vagina</span> Device designed to imitate the female sex organs

An artificial vagina is a device designed to imitate the vagina as well as sometimes the vulva. To achieve this, it will generally be made of a soft material, lubricated, and occasionally heated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Facesitting</span> Sexual activity

Facesitting, also known as queening or kinging, is a sexual practice with one partner sitting over the other's face, sometimes allowing for oral–genital or oral–anal contact. The sitting partner may face in either direction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex machine</span> Mechanical devices used to simulate human sexual activity

A sex machine is a mechanical device used to simulate human sexual intercourse or other sexual activity.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to human sexuality:

References

  1. Sheumaker, Helen; Wajda, Shirley, eds. (2007). Material Culture in America: Understanding Everyday Life. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 404. ISBN   9781576076484.
  2. Rada, Alena (2021). Imposed Morality. Australian Self Publishing Group. p. 579. ISBN   9781925908626.
  3. 1 2 Miles, Lucy (22 July 2001). "Move over Ikea... this furniture's for you know what!; Erotic pieces designed for sex". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham, England via The Free Library.
  4. Powell, Helena Frith (2006). Be Incredibly Sexy: 52 brilliant ideas for sizzling sensuality. Infinite Ideas. pp. 59–60. ISBN   9781904902553.
  5. Assante, Julia (2007). "The Lead Inlays of Tukulti-Ninurta I: Pornography as Imperial Strategy". In Cheng, Jack; Feldman, Marian (eds.). Ancient Near Eastern Art in Context. BRILL. p. 369. ISBN   9789047420859.
  6. Catherine the Great: A Life From Beginning to End. Biographies of Women in History. Vol. 7. Hourly History. 2017. p. 31. ISBN   9781976378379.
  7. Cryle, Peter Maxwell (2001). The Telling of the Act: Sexuality as Narrative in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-century France. University of Delaware Press. p. 42. ISBN   9780874137484.
  8. "On the trail of Edward VII's sex chair for threesomes". The Week UK. Archived from the original on 2015-05-14. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  9. Dirty Bertie's seat of pleasure, The Times , 17 January 2004
  10. Dyson, James (2021). Invention: A Life. Simon and Schuster. p. 38. ISBN   9781982188429.
  11. Gayford, Martin (8 October 2007). "Allen Jones: The day I turned down Stanley Kubrick" . The Telegraph. London.
  12. "Paris Olympics organisers deny beds for athletes are 'anti-sex'". France 24. AFP. 18 May 2024.
  13. Aggrawal, Anil (2008). Forensic and Medico-legal Aspects of Sexual Crimes and Unusual Sexual Practices. CRC Press. ISBN   9781420043099.
  14. Taormino, Tristan (2009-12-01). The Big Book of Sex Toys: From Vibrators and Dildos to Swings and Slings--Playful and Kinky Bedside Accessories That Make Your Sex Life Amazing. Quiver. ISBN   978-1-59233-355-4.
  15. 1 2 3 Zane, Zachary (25 July 2022). "10 Pieces of Sex Furniture for When Beds Get Old". Men's Health.
  16. "What is a Fisting Sling?". Kinkly. 22 January 2018.
  17. Watson, Angela (8 February 2020). "Sex Glider Buyers Guide: The Best Monkey Rockers Available". Doctor Climax.
  18. Strgar, Wendy. "Furnishing Your Love". Hitched. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020.
  19. Dickson, EJ (9 July 2021). "Dave Lampert, Inventor of the Sybian Sex Aid, Dead at 90". Rolling Stone.

Bibliography