A 200-year-old condom on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

A rare condom dating from around 1830, decorated with an erotic engraving depicting a nun and three clergymen in provocative poses, has been on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam since Tuesday. The nearly two-hundred-year-old contraceptive is likely made from a sheep's appendage. It could be a brothel souvenir, of which only two have survived, the museum said in a statement. "It testifies to the multiple applications of the art of engraving and offers insight into sexuality and prostitution in the 19th century," the museum said.

The condom is part of an exhibition on prostitution and sexuality in the 19th century. The engraving on the condom depicts a seated nun with her legs apart, lifting her skirt and pointing at one of the three clergymen, whose genitals are also on display. "It represents both the playful and serious side of sexual health," according to the museum. "The pursuit of pleasure was juxtaposed with the fear of STDs, particularly syphilis, and unwanted pregnancies," the Rijksmuseum added. The condom was purchased at auction six months ago. A condom engraving was not previously in the Rijksmuseum's collection, the museum said.