CHASTITY BELT

The chastity belt.

Who hasn’t heard of the chastity belt? A device that supposedly helped husbands and fathers ensure that their wives and daughters remained untouched and “pure” as far back as the Middle Ages. This was said to be a metal belt tightened around a woman’s waist, locked by the man with a large padlock. This medieval man could then be free of worries that his chosen one would engage in sexual relations with someone else, despite their prolonged absence due to wars. How barbaric and unhygienic, isn’t it? At least that’s the story that has been told for centuries. Simple, shocking, and somewhat amusing, as it portrays past people as extremely backward, contrasting with our enlightened and better selves. However, this is not the true story of the chastity belt. The truth is, there is no physical evidence that chastity belts existed in those times, at least not in a physical form. They are mentioned a few times in literature and depicted in artworks, albeit more in an allegorical and satirical sense. The earliest evidence of a chastity belt can be found in a book by military engineer von Eichstadt from 1405, which described catapults, armor, and torture devices, including a sketch of a chastity belt. Historians are convinced that this was just one of the humorous inventions he included in the book, similar to a device for becoming invisible or a fart-propelled contraption, which further solidifies the fact that chastity belts were not used in the Middle Ages. The surviving examples of chastity belts found today are believed to have been made in the 19th century. With the advent of industrialization in Europe, materials such as iron and steel became more accessible, and soon blacksmiths realized there was a particular market they could tap into. Puritanical masses of that time were willing to pay a lot of money to view medieval torture devices in museums and exhibitions, satisfying their craving for their own judgment of medieval barbarism. Thus, blacksmiths of that time made several torture devices, including chastity belts, and sold them to museums and collections. Interestingly, the chastity belt probably was never in widespread use in the past, but its use has spread precisely in modern times, in BDSM and fetish communities. Thus, the chastity belt is an urban legend of the Middle Ages that has survived to this day. Now it can be an interesting addition to any historical collection or a fascinating ornament to spark debates. Certainly, one of those pieces that tell a story and stimulate our imagination.

Dimensions: 55 x 35 x 25 cm

Weight: 4 kg

The chastity belt is in excellent condition.