SEX TOYS & SEXY GIFTS

History Of Sex Toys

One of the first texts to depict the sexual use of a false penis was Mime 6 by Herondas, a third century BC Greek play.  A married woman named Metro visits her friend to borrow an olisbos (These were later renamed dildos by the Italians.   The word is a derivative of the term diletto – which appropriately means delight.)  Unfortunately Caritto had already lent the device to another friend leaving poor Metro despondent.  As well as being keen on sharing, the Greeks also had probably the worlds oldest sex shop. An archaeological dig in Sazonika unearthed sex paraphernalia dating back two thousand years. 

But the Greeks didn't have the market cornered.  Chinas third century han dynasty boasted dildos made from ivory and wood, many of which were double ended to accommodate two women at once. 

Poet Lord John Wilmot was one of the Brits who extolled the virtues of dildos in a piece written circa 1670.  He says “You would take him at first for no person of note, because he appears in plain leather coat, But when you his virtuous abilities know, you'll fall down and worship Signior Dildo.

By the mid nineteenth century dildos were widely used and manufactured.  The rubber model was introduced around 1859 with electrical devices following by the end of the century. Rather than giving sexual pleasure they were used as medical aids.  Medical massage didn't have any stigma and was widely administered.

American George Taylor first patented steam powered vibrators in a medical text that dates from 1903, Dr Samuel Howard noted, pelvic massage in Gynecology has its brilliant advocates and they report wonderful results.

British inventor and physician Joesph Mortimer Granville swiftly followed up Taylors invention win an electromechanical vibrator intended for massaging male skeletal muscles.  Such was the popularity of vibrators among women that they became the fifth household appliance to be electrified, beaten only by the sewing machine, fan, kettle and toaster.  Orgasms were practical, self administered and extremely popular.

By the 1900's sexy toys had become more sophisticated with hand held battery powered models widely available by mail order.  Those designed for clitoral stimulation were marketed as massagers for muscular pain.  One model made in London in 1905 was named “rogers electrical specialty” and may have coined the phrase “to be rogered!”

Numerous respectable magazines carried adverts, including Needlecraft, Womans Home Companion, Modern Priscilla and Sears Catalog,  which billed them as aids that every woman appreciates, with ambiguous slogans that included  “all the pleasures of youth will throb within you”. 

Another advert in 1921 actually encouraged readers to buy toys for their wives to keep them “young and pretty”.

When vibrators were portrayed as medical aids all was right with the world, then pornographers began to depict their actual use.  Censors frowned on these blatant acts of female sexuality and the vibrator was driven underground until work by sexologists, including Alfred Kinsey in the 50's and Betty Dobson in the 70's brought the female sexuality into the public forum.  Then HBO's Sex and the City featured the rabbit vibe and diamonds were no longer womans best friend...