Enter the awesomely-named Fucking Sculptures (whose taglines are some of the best I’ve ever come across (pun intended): “As unique as you are. Hand-sculpted, fine fucking art” and “Where sex meets art, then fucks itself”) and their stunning soda-lime glass creations.

Scratch science lesson. Soda-lime glass, sometimes called soda-lime-silica glass, is the stuff used to make drinking glasses, bottles, jars and the like – and, generally-speaking, you don’t see many sex toys constructed of it. Why? I’m not 100% sure because it can be coloured and blown into some absolutely amazing dildos, but I suspect that manufactures shy away from it due to its greater sensitivity to heat than its aforementioned borosilicate sibling. That said, it can still be very easily and safely heated and cooled, just not rapidly or suddenly. Per the Fucking Sculptures website:

Soda-Lime glass is the most common form of glass produced.  It has all of the wonderful properties listed above. However, it does not like to be plunged into boiling water.

Temperature play is a lot of fun, but I suspect – hope!? – that there won’t be many of you wanting to stick a dildo that’s hotter than the surface of the sun in one of your orifices.

So, on to the G-Spoon itself.

My first thought when this arrived in the post?

Holy crap that’s big! C.f. the following cucumber versus dildo size comparison:

Now, I knew when I ordered this beauty that it was going to be on the large side (the G-Spoon does also come in Small and Medium) but seeing the dimensions online versus holding them in your hand is quite a bit different. Weighing in at 554 grams and with a girth and length of 14 and 23 centimetres respectively, this dildo is substantial. And I’d be flat-out lying if I didn’t admit to thinking it might be a case of eyes bigger than vagina. Thankfully, though, that didn’t turn out to be true.

While there’s not getting around the fact that this is a hefty sex toy it’s exceptionally well shaped – almost dish-like in its curvature – and it fits the body extremely well. Personally, I found that gradual introduction, a decent amount of lube and gentle use was all that was needed to overcome my initial size-fright. And for someone who likes girth and having their G-Spot stimulated, as I do, it felt bloody fantastic. The size and smaller hooked end also meant it was easy for M to hold and angle (he was in the driver’s seat first time out), so it’s a really good choice for those who want to include a partner in their play.

This dildo, as all the Fucking Sculptures  dildos are, is handblown (see the clip below), which means it’s entirely unique; while the standard designs and sizes don’t change, no created piece is ever absolutely identical. I like that. It means that my G-Spoon is unique to me. Not only that, it’s beautiful. Really beautiful. The soda-lime glass has an amazing sparkle to it when it catches the light and the green I selected is fathomless and deep, the colour of a dense, rich forest. It’s extremely easy to clean as all non-porous glass toys are (mild soap and warm water are all that’s required) and for the times you’re not sticking it interesting places, Fucking Sculptures  give you a soft, cosy pouch to store it in.

Price? There’s no getting around the fact that at USD$160.00 for the large version, the G-Spoon’s not exactly cheap. However, this isn’t some mass produced sex-toy made from terrible-for-you materials. It’s a functional – and very pleasurable – work of art. Well worth the money, in my opinion. And Fucking Sculptures offer a ‘one free replacement policy’, too.

A quick note on ordering and delivery … can I just say that Maria is a gem? I placed my order online (if you’re outside of the U.S. you’ll need to email Fucking Sculptures directly, as I did, to purchase your dildo) just after moving hemispheres and had all sorts of fun and games with PayPal due to it not liking me living in a different country to my bank. She was uber-patient as I tried to sort the glitch out and was very good about keeping me up-to-date as to the progress of my order.

In conclusion, the G-Spoon’s a gorgeous sex toy that wouldn’t look at all out-of-place on a shelf or mantelpiece. It really is a work of art and fucking, fucking good fun.

Highly, highly recommended.

Tickle your fancy? Click here to find out more about Fucking Sculptures and view their amazing range of beautiful hand-blown dildos.

The post Review: Fucking Sculptures G-Spoon (Large) appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

How timely this Kink of the Week topic is; I have literally (as in the last 24 hours) hit the ‘pay now’ button and invested a chunk of change in a new phallic monolith for the old Jane and M toy box. No batteries, no cords, no plastic – just a lovely hunk of made-to-order glass that I’m hoping will get me off like no-one’s business. I want an orgasm. And I want a good one.

At this point, I’m going to say something controversial. Well, not controversial exactly but, possibly, a little surprising because I really haven’t seen that many other women make the statement I’m about to:

Phallic-style vibrators don’t, as a general rule, get me off.

Not without a lot of fiddling about, anyway.

From a stimulation point-of-view, the internal vibrations do a whole lot of nothing to my lady parts (am I the only one whose vagina pretty much yawns in boredom at these?) and while the rabbit ears – if the vibrator in question happens to have them – do generally feel good against my clitoris, they never seem to hit quite the right place with any sort of consistency. M’s fingers are far easier to position, far more flexible, and far more likely to get me where I need to go. They don’t need recharging, either.

Which brings me to dildos.

I was late to the dildo party, seduced in my youthful exuberance by the idea of vibrations equalling orgasmic heaven: why would I want to choose a plain old phallus over one that vibrates like an Airbus during take-off and churns little beads around like a cement mixer full of marbles? Surely the more features the better? Give me the bells and whistles! Stick as many things on that hot rod as possible!

Image: L’Academie des Dames… Aloïsia, Nicolas Chorier

Yeah, turns out all those extras, for me personally, were highly un-necessary. In short, I have come to realise that, internally, all my body really cares about is size, shape, and material.

My first dildo purchases were probably not the best (rubbery numbers that smelled awful and, in hindsight, were likely choc-full of phthalates). However, the fact that they were, respectively, both bigger and smaller than a standard vibrator made them stand out because they could do things their vibrating siblings weren’t really able to: the larger-sized dildo created more satisfying friction internally due to its girth; the smaller, thinner one could be inserted into tighter places. Eventually, however, as I became more educated about phthalates, I threw them both out and went in search of body-safe alternatives.

And this was when I discovered the joys of the glass dildo.

The glass phallus has pretty much become my internal sex toy of choice. Why? First and foremost, because it has a firmness to it that the softer, plasticised versions just don’t. In turn, this means that it can be angled and rubbed against the G-Spot extremely effectively and, if I’m lucky, prompt a squirting orgasm. (When all’s said and done, that’s the kind of climax I put on a pedestal because they’re nearly always more intense than one triggered by clitoral stimulation.) I’ve also found that glass tends to lend itself to more extreme angling design-wise and that the hooked, curved dildos that can be produced from it as a result are perfect for targeting that little sponge of internal nerve endings. Best of all, glass isn’t going to leach all sorts of chemical nasties into your body. It’s easy to clean, too.

Image: Erotische Darstellung, Franz von Bayros 

I’ve not yet tried a stainless steel dildo (although one of those is on my wish list) but have heard that many others rate them, particularly the njoy Pure Wand, for the same reasons: it’s firm, angled, body-safe, and non-porous. (This particular design comes up again and again on Toy with Me Tuesday and looking at various other online reviews, it seems some people are ready to marry the thing!)

So (after all that rambling), I hereby declare myself a card-carrying member of Camp Dildo. I like it here. There’s no fast, or slow or pulse setting, but it’s satisfying. Blissfully so.

The post Kink of the Week: Camp Dildo appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

You might recall that I recently had a failed ‘fake frost’ Toy with me Tuesday experiment. Well, last weekend it was finally cold enough for Lizzie and I to take the shot I wanted with the Spartacus Smooth G-Spot Glass Dildo she and Thomas reviewed a few weeks ago.

This shot is, in part, an homage to putting glass toys in the freezer (always a good surprise) but also a nod to our first ever five-minute erotica post, Frostbite.

Want to find out who else is playing Toy with me Tuesday? Click here.

The post Toy with me Tuesday: Deep Freeze appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

It turns out the Jason Julius runs a website called Orgasm Arts and provides online instructional videos to those wanting to learn more about female orgasms. Not surprisingly, the majority of his offerings have to be paid for – and they’re not cheap. (I can’t speak for others, but I don’t think I’d pay $47 to learn about something I could’ve found out about by investing half-an-hour of my time searching the Interweb. I also took a bit of an exception to the ‘if you can’t give your girlfriend/partner/wife a G-Spot orgasm, she’s likely to leave you’ sales spiel on the Orgasm Arts Website.)

However, Mr Julius has placed some ‘free to view’ videos on YouTube, including How To Hit The G Spot and Foreplay Tips and Techniques, which I did take the time watch. And I have to say, I found his freebee offerings somewhat intriguing – less for their informational content, which, pure fact-wise, isn’t too bad – than the man actually presenting them. It’s not often you see a guy who looks like he’s off to a rock concert or the lost fifth member of Stone Temple Pilots trying to talk in a very serious manner about getting a woman off …

The post Jason Julius: frontman for female ejaculation appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

I had a bit of a disaster with my original Toy with me Tuesday shot for today. Turns out, it’s not that easy to create fake frost. Who’d have thought? (I’ll just have to wait ‘til winter is in full swing before trying that one again, I think …)

So, instead of ice crystals, I’ve gone for electronics. This shot is actually inspired by a friend’s comments regarding a shot I did of the LELO Gigi back in September. She thought it looked like a remote for the T.V. or a videogame controller. And I have to agree, when you put the Gigi in a gadget line-up, she doesn’t look out of place! Hey, we all have buttons we like pushed.

To all the Toy with me Tuesday regulars who are under the weather at the moment, get well soon!

Check out the other wonderful Toy with me Tuesday pictures for this week by clicking here or on the banner below.

The post Toy with me Tuesday: Turn me on appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

Sex education – and not the kind they teach in schools. I’m a big fan of it and have a fair number of non-fiction books devoted to various sex-related subjects: sexual psychology (Dirty Minds by Kayt Sukel), oral sex (Masterclass: Going Down by Ian Cameron), and sadomasochism (SM 101: A Realistic Introduction by Jay Wiseman) to name just a few. But, sometimes, there’s no substitute for practical experience.

Just over a year ago, I attended an adult sex education class for the first time with my other half and, hands down, it was probably one of the most interesting and liberating things we’ve done as a couple. Being able to talk to someone with the experience to answer topical sex questions in a practical and non-judgemental way and having the opportunity to see things demonstrated (and try a few things ourselves under the watchful eye of the tutor) was wonderful. Even better, that first class opened the door to a whole lot of other lines of thinking and exploration for us. Some new adventures, if you will.

Earlier this week I received a marketing email from British-based sex toy retailer Coco de Mer, reminding me of their new salon season and, I have to say, they’re running some great classes this November, including An Introduction to Sensual Massage, Sensual Spanking, Mistress in the Bedroom (this one has the fabulous Mistress Absolute at the helm), Backdoor Antics: Practicals of Anal Sex, and Female Ejaculation and the G-Spot.

Coco de Mer aren’t the only ones offering scintillating sexual learning opportunities, however. Hoxton-based Sh! Women’s Erotic Emporium, too, are serving up an eclectic mix of reasonably priced classes to fill your evenings as the nights draw in. There’s still plenty of time to sign-up for Rough Sex for Good Girls & Nice Guys, which is open to both women and couples on 23 November, but if you’re not doing anything next Wednesday (24 October), how about some women-only Strap-On & Pegging tuition?

You can never have too much knowledge.

* Please note that the above class lists aren’t exhaustive.

• For the full Coco d Mer salon schedule, please click here.
• For the full Sh! Women’s Erotic Emporium class schedule, please click here.

The post Teach me a lesson appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used: Smooth G-Spot Glass Dildo with finger loop
From: Spartacus
Price: From £29.99
Material(s): lead free borosilicate glass

Dildos don’t vibrate, but they do have their charms … Lizzie and Thomas play with the Smooth G-Spot Glass Dildo from Spartacus.

First thoughts …

Lizzie
A couple of months ago, Thomas and I had a major toy box clean out. We threw out a load of stuff – things that we’d bought and didn’t like, mostly, but also some toys that we’d enjoyed and thought were past their use-by date. Amongst them, a monstrously large dildo that Thomas purchased for me as a birthday present. It was an awful, flesh-coloured thing that was eye-wateringly large (he didn’t check the size properly before ordering it – or so he told me) and smelled strongly of latex. So strongly, in fact, you could smell it halfway across the room if the lid on our toy box wasn’t shut properly. Still, we had quite a bit of fun with it before it was eventually consigned to the dustbin, although I can’t say it really sold me on dildos generally; vibrators always seemed to have far more to offer. Needless to say, I was pretty ambivalent about the Spartacus Smooth G-Spot Dildo. Turns out, I grossly underestimated what a well-designed, well-made toy could do for me.

Thomas
My last dildo purchase for Lizzie was less than 100% satisfactory, although I think she quite liked the size ;-). It did look and smell awful; think John Holmes on steroids complete with ‘realistic veins’ (the manufacturer’s words on the packaging, not mine) and ‘realistic’ meaning varicose, apparently. The packaging was also a bit crap. I never showed it to Lizzie as it was too embarrassing (it featured a male model who looked like disturbingly like David Hasselhoff with some major Photoshop-ing having been done on his genitals) and I can see why they didn’t show this on the site I brought it from.

The packaging …

Lizzie
I really appreciate it when toy manufacturers cater to both genders, i.e. don’t plaster big-boobed, de-haired women all over their packaging. It immediately makes me more inclined to buy their products again. This Spartacus glass dildo is presented in a simple, black, hexagonal box with clean font. It’s completely neutral, in other words; you could buy it and give it to a man or woman without worrying that the branding was (potentially) going to send the wrong message, i.e. “I want you to be a porn star!”

How it looks …

Lizzie
Pretty! The dildo is made of mid-blue blown glass and beautifully shaped. The shaft, which has an insertable length of 6 inches (approximately 15.5 centimetres), runs at a consistent width and then flares out to create a bulb-shaped head with a diameter of 4.75 inches (12 centimetres) at its widest point.  The latter crooks forwards slightly, giving it the all-important ability to stimulate the G-Spot. At the dildo’s base, a simple ring that allows the person wielding it slip their fingers through and thus get (and maintain) a decent grip on the toy.

Thomas
Much better than our original monster. It looks like it could be a glass sculpture or a paperweight. The packaging is also subtle and low-key so you won’t feel like a member of the old mac brigade if you give one as a gift. Well-made and very smooth with no visible cracks or joins (a must in a glass dildo); it’s even got a ring you can hang it on. Handy.

In action …

Lizzie
Two words. Female ejaculation. I have experienced this orgasm-induced side effect quite a few times before but generally find it easier to achieve with Thomas’s fingers (although G-Spot vibrators also do the job). There was something about the Spartacus dildo’s shape, however, that got me there faster and more easily than either digits or my usual toy-partner in crime, the LELO Gigi. The head of the dildo, when angled correctly, felt wonderful when pressed and rubbed against my G-Spot and, as far as I’m concerned, the size and design of it are pretty close to perfect. I had four ejaculatory orgasms in the space of an hour with this thing (no lie) although Thomas was the one in the driver’s seat, so I have to give him a large chunk of the credit for using the dildo to such devastating effect.

Material-wise, the Spartacus felt wonderful. The glass was beautifully smooth and slippery and I especially liked the way it changed temperature during use. (To start with, it was very cool but as it absorbed my body heat, it became warmer and warmer.)

I found that the best way to use this toy was standing and bent forwards over a soft chair; the position gave Thomas a decent amount of room to manoeuvre and also allowed him some scope to get the dildo in the correct position. In addition, he was able to press the head of the dildo against the front wall of my vagina more easily (no fighting gravity) – and thus target my G-Spot.

Thomas
I didn’t know to start with this was a G-Spot dildo, although the shape looked about right for one so once we got down to business, I started to see how effective it would be for stimulating this area. Extremely effective, as it turned out.

I could tell it was certainly hitting the spot (so to speak) with Lizzie but it soon became very obvious that it was really hitting it. Lizzie has ejaculated a number of times before but this was by far the quickest and the most frequent I have seen, so much so that the line from that Bloodhound Gang song ‘love the kind you clean up with a mop and a bucket’ springs to mind. I could have stopped after the first one but I don’t like letting Lizzie off too easily so I thought I would push the boat out.

The reason I think this dildo works so well is because of the shape of its large, angled head. It caught Lizzie in just the right place inside and I could feel it moving over her pelvic bone (which is the sweet spot for her), so it was relatively simple to position. Also the ring on the base makes it easy to get a good grip and to get the head in at just the right angle (which is much harder to do with just the shaft on a normal dildo).

Any downsides?

Lizzie
None that I can think of. I’m in love with this thing!

The verdict?

Lizzie
A really fabulous dildo that looks good, is well made, and shaped like a dream. It’s very easy to clean, too, as it can be sterilised in the dishwasher. I suspect this toy is going to be brought out often and that it’s going to result in a quite a few soaked towels, sheets and floors. Great fun to use with a partner and highly (highly) recommended to those who enjoy or climax from G-Spot stimulation. Even better, although we had plenty of fun during our inaugural session with this dildo, there’s lots of scope to mix things up in the future as the glass construction means that we can warm it in a basin of water or cool it in the fridge or freezer before use. (The idea of the frozen glass being put somewhere hot holds a lot of appeal – rather like an ice cube but far less messy!)

Thomas
I have never used a glass dildo before but I have to say I am sold on this one; it looks good, has outstanding performance and is very practical. I also think the ability for it to be frozen will add extra thrills (and the odd shock) for Lizzie in the future.

In summary

Things we liked:

• The orgasms it produced. Full-on, full-out female ejaculation.
• The glass construction. Attractive and easy to clean.
• The play possibilities. Can be heated or cooled safely.
• Phthalate-free. No nasty chemicals and especially good for those with latex allergies.
• Lube-friendly. Because this dildo is made of glass, it can be used with all types of lubricants (oil-, silicone- or water-based).

Things we weren’t so keen on:

• Nothing!

Tickle your fancy? Click here to buy this item from Lovehoney.

The post A touch of glass: the Spartacus Smooth G-Spot Dildo appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used:

Do good things come in small packages? Lizzie shares her thoughts on Gigi, LELO’s rechargeable G-Spot vibrator, who she’s been getting to know for a while now.

First thoughts …

Lizzie
As you may know from reading my A not-so-Happy Rabbit review, I’ve been using vibrators – alone and with Thomas – for quite some time. But Gigi was a bit of a departure for me because, at the time I bought this little G-Spot gem, it represented a number of firsts. One, it was made by LELO, a brand I’d not tried before. Two, it wasn’t a rabbit (and up until Gigi’s arrival, all my vibes had ears). Three, it was the smallest vaginal vibrator I had ever purchased. Gigi was a bit of stab-in-the-dark, to be perfectly frank; I’d just divorced my latest rabbit – things hadn’t worked out between us – and I was desperate to find a vibrator I enjoyed using again.

How it looks …

Lizzie
I won’t spend too much time talking about the LELO packaging, except to say that, as with all LELO products, it’s sleek and appealing. As you can see from the below picture, the company’s marketing team have clearly thought a lot about how to make their product look and feel luxurious, non-threatening, and appealing to women. Bluntly, you don’t feel like you’ve just bought something from a seedy backstreet sex shop.

The Gigi itself is quite small. In fact, even though I perused the dimensions before purchasing it, I still got a bit of a surprise when I pulled it out of the box. With a length of 16.51 centimetres (6.5 inches), a circumference of 10.16 centimetres (4 inches) and a diameter of 3.3 centimetres (1.3 inches), it’s not exactly the biggest vibrator on the block. From a purely aesthetic point-of-view, however, the Gigi is lovely. The base of the vibrator is constructed of a gloss-white plastic, upon which is mounted a single, flush control button. Very uncluttered. At the bottom of the base, a small recharging socket (Gigi has a usage time of four hours at full charge and a standby life of ninety days) that can be revealed or concealed by lifting or lowering a small, pliable tab. A thin metallic band separates this base section from the insertable shaft. The latter is made of FDA-approved silicone that’s super-smooth to the touch and pleasingly coloured. (I ordered the Gigi in deep rose although the vibrator is also available in two other colours – pink and turquoise blue.)

While not waterproof, the LELO Gigi is splash-proof, which means that you can wash it with antibacterial soap and water once you’ve finished using it. (You can use sex-toy cleaners to clean this vibrator, too, but not all are silicone-friendly, so make sure you check before applying then to the Gigi or any other toys constructed of this material.)

How it feels …

Lizzie
Given its size, I was a bit worried about how the Gigi was going to perform (not to put too fine a point on it, I’m generally a girth sort of girl). Consequently, I had everything other than my legs crossed, hoping that I hadn’t made an expensive error in judgement.

I remember with clarity that Gigi arrived in the middle of the day, while I was home alone, and I beat a hasty retreat to the bedroom to put the vibrator through its paces as soon as it had enough charge. (Although please note that I don’t recommend you do this as it’s not good for the battery!) The first thing I noticed? Gigi was LOADS quieter than all the other vibrators I’d previously tried. Most sound like electric toothbrushes on acid but the LELO Gigi had a nice quiet hum.

After cycling through all of the available programmes (Gigi has six different speeds and five different pulse patterns), I got started – and made a very pleasant and unexpected discovery.  Whilst ‘warming myself up’, I found that the flattened tip at the head of the vibrator was brilliant for massaging my clitoris. The increased surface area covered things really well – far better than a standard tapered vibrator tip – and, consequently, enabled me to get aroused relatively quickly. But what of the G-Spot? Did the Gigi stimulate it effectively, too?

Well, when I finally got to it, yes, it did.

The G-Spot can be difficult to target during regular intercourse and it’s nice to have a toy that can be used to stimulate this area. The curved design of the Gigi enables you to easily press the vibrator against the front wall of the vagina (where the G-Spot is located) and, once you’ve found the right place, the flattened head at the top of the shaft can be rubbed over and pressed into it to stimulate it. In addition, the vibrator’s relatively slim shaft circumference, makes it very easy to move it around – so its reduced size is actually a benefit as it helps you get it in the right position without stretching anything uncomfortably.

As far as the Gigi’s speed and vibration settings are concerned, I’d have to say I’m pretty ambivalent – but then I’ve never been that fussed over them on any vibrator I’ve owned. Others may enjoy the interrupted or ‘dipping’ pulse programmes on offer but I personally like the consistent vibration at maximum intensity level, purely because it gets me where I need to go faster.

Any downsides?

Lizzie
The LELO Gigi isn’t cheap, although you do get a well-made vibrator for your money – and one that won’t keep your next-door neighbours awake when it’s in use. The control button can be a little frustrating (when you’re lying on your back/side/stomach, you can’t exactly see where you’re pressing) and when your fingers are slippery it’s not the easiest to manipulate. I also think it’s important to note that the Gigi is more woman- than man-friendly, by which I mean that it’s harder for a guy to operate because of it’s size. Thomas finds it really difficult to use this vibrator on me internally because there’s not much for his hand to grip onto around the base. It’s definitely designed for a feminine hand.

The verdict?

Lizzie
Very recently, someone asked me to recommend a vibrator for a friend of theirs, and, normally, I would never do this without first obtaining some specific details (what sorts of vibrators they’ve used before, what they liked about them, what they didn’t like about them, size preferences, etc.) but I found myself suggesting the LELO Gigi. Why? Because it’s a lovely looking vibe that’s quiet, well-made, and relatively easy to operate. But most importantly, its design means that most users will likely to find that its use results in a decent and satisfying orgasm; even if it doesn’t do it for your G-Spot, chances are you’ll enjoy its effects on your clitoris. It’s a vibrator that covers a few bases and it’s not intimidatingly massive.

In summary

Things I liked:

• The materials. Body-safe silicone means that you don’t have to worry about leeching phthalates or horrible rubbery smells.
• The shape of the main vibrator shaft. Good proportions and the flattened tip is great for massaging both the G-Spot and the clitoris.
• The fact that Gigi is rechargeable. No need for a back-up battery supply.

Things I wasn’t so keen on:

• The price. The Gigi isn’t the cheapest vibrator out there. However, the quality of the product is excellent and when you take that into consideration, the cost doesn’t seem so unreasonable.
• The control pad. It’s not the easiest to operate – especially if you have large, masculine fingers.

Tickle your fancy? Click on the following links to buy this item from Bondara, LELO, Lovehoney, and Sh! Women’s Erotic Emporium.

The post This story is about a little vibrator. Her name is Gigi appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

With all the media chatter going on about erotica ‘entering the mainstream’ post-Fifty Shades of Grey, it’s easy to forget that there’s been a wealth of wonderful – and sometimes controversial – erotic literature, paintings and objects that’s appeared over the centuries. In fact, our modern sexual lexicon is heavily influenced by all that has gone before. Take, for example, the words ‘sadism’ and ‘masochism’ (which I included definitions for in my last link round-up post). While many of us do understand their meaning, a considerably smaller number of people are aware of (or have read the work of) the writers after whom they were coined - Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, author of Venus in Furs, and Donatien Alphonse François, also known as the Marquis de Sade. Similarly, sex toys are nothing new: did you know that the word ‘dildo’ appeared in English in the 1500s?

If you’ve visited the Behind the Chintz Curtain Facebook page and scrolled back to the very beginning, you’ll know that we’ve included some significant sexual milestones, starting from the 1300s, in our timeline. But if you’re not a Facebook user – or simply can’t be bothered hitting the arrow key or stroking your mouse to get that far back – here they are. Think there’s something significant missing from the line up? Let me know …

2011: Fifty Shades of Grey

Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L James is released as an eBook by Australian virtual publisher, The Writers’ Coffee Shop.

2003-2004: Belle de Jour

Brooke Magnanti writes (anonymously) about her life as a prostitute via her blog, Belle de Jour: Diary of a London Call Girl (later published as Belle de Jour: The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl).

Image: Brooke Magnanti, a.k.a Belle de Jour, 2010. Original photograph by Paul Clarke.

1998: The Rabbit

Sex and the City’s The Turtle and the Hare episode, featuring the ‘Rabbit’ vibrator, airs for the first time.

1998: eReaders

The first dedicated eBook readers are released.

1993: Black Lace

Virgin Books launches Black Lace, an imprint specialising in erotica and erotic romance written for and by women.

1981: The G-Spot

The term ‘G-Spot’ is coined, named after German gynaecologist Ernst Gräfenberg.

1972: The Joy of Sex

The Joy of Sex, written by Alexander Comfort, is published.

1968: Cordless vibrator

The cordless vibrator is patented.

 

1954: The Story of O

Anne Desclos’s The Story of O is published under the pen name Pauline Réage. The book was written for her lover, Jean Paulhan, who admired the work of the Marquis de Sade.

 

1950s: ‘The Pill’

The first combined oral contraceptive (‘The Pill’) is developed and approved for use.

 

1940s: Anaïs Nin

Anaïs Nin writes erotic short stories for a private client at a price of one dollar per page. These shorts will go on to be published in the 1970s book, The Delta of Venus.

 

1934: Tropic of Cancer

Henry Miller’s Tropic of Cancer, a first person account of his sexual experiences and encounters, is published by the Obelisk Press.

 

1920: Latex condom

The first latex condom is made.

 

1883: Kama Sutra translated

Hindu philosopher Vātsyāyana’s Kama Sutra is translated into English and privately published.

 

1880: Electric vibrator

Dr J. M. Granville patents the first electromechanical vibrator.

Illustration: Nerve-vibration and excitation as agents in the treatment of functional disorder and organic disease, 1883. Original by Joseph Mortimer Granville.

 

1870: Venus in Furs

Venus in Furs, featuring a female dominant and a male submissive, is published. The term ‘masochism’ is later derived from the name of the book’s Austrian author, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch.

 

1869: The Manipulator
George Taylor invents the first steam-powered vibrator, known as the ‘Manipulator’.

 

1855: Rubber condom

The first rubber condom is made.

 

1748: Fanny Hill

John Cleland’s Fanny Hill is published. Depicting the life of a young girl working as a prostitute in London, it was banned until the 1970s in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Image: Charles plucks Fanny’s virgin flower. Original by Édouard-Henri Avril.

 

1740: Marquis de Sade

The infamous Marquis de Sade (Donatien Alphonse François) is born. He would become famous for his libertine writings, such as Juliette, Justine, The 120 Days of Sodom, and Philosophy in the Bedroom. The word ‘sadism’ (from the French ‘sadisme’) is derived from his name.

Image: The signature of the Marquis de Sade, 1700s. Original by Marquis de Sade.

 

1684: Sodom is published

The obscene drama, Sodom (attributed to John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester), is published. Bolloxinion, King of Sodom, famously proclaims: ‘… that buggery may be used O’er all the land, so cunt be not abused’.

 

Circa 1593: Dildo

The word ‘dildo’ appears in English for the first time in Choise of Valentines [sic] by Thomas Nashe.

 

1592-1593: Venus and Adonis

William Shakespeare writes Venus and Adonis.

 

1524: I Modi (The Sixteen Pleasures)

Marcantonio Raimondi publishes I Modi (The Sixteen Pleasures), a series of explicit engravings featuring different sexual positions based on the erotic paintings of Giulio Romano. Pietro Aretino later composes sixteen Sonetti Lussuriosi (‘Lust Sonnets’) to accompany Giulio Romano’s original paintings.

Image: I Modi, 1524. Original by Marcantonio Raimondi.

 

1450s: The merkin

Merkins, pubic wigs, are used for the first time. The ten most famous merkins in recent years? http://www.thefrisky.com/photos/10-famous-merkins-on-screen/

 

Circa 1350-1353: The Decameron

Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron is written. One hundred tales by ten different narrators of love, lust, bawdy behaviour and tragedy.

 

The post The erotic: now and then appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used:

First thoughts …

Lizzie
I have been looking for a new rabbit vibrator for AGES. I bought my first one over ten years ago and fell completely in love with it. It was ridiculously cheap, was likely full of terrible un-bodysafe plastics, smelled dreadful, was louder than a 747 at take-off, and had an awful and superfluous bubble of moving beads the colour of boiled sweets near the base. But it could make me orgasm, no problem at all, and it was used on a weekly basis with much enthusiasm.

Unfortunately, after a few months of faithful (heavy) service it gave up the ghost – the battery chamber corroded – and, in any event, I’d started to do a bit of research on phthalates and had decided that I shouldn’t be putting things that were potentially harmful inside myself.

So I bought another more expensive one – and to my great disappointment, it was not a patch on the cheap-as-chips original. The rabbit ear position was slightly different and even though the vibe was quieter and smelled loads better, it wasn’t nearly as easy to orgasm with. Eventually, I got cross with it, threw it away and started experimenting with some different vibrator designs to see if I could find something I liked better.

But nothing I’ve tried so far has given me quite the same pleasure as my first rabbit and I’m desperate to find one that I adore as much as my original.

Bring on the Happy Rabbit.

The packaging …

Lizzie
Nice. This is one of Lovehoney’s own products so carries their revamped branding, which is very simple and stylish. A cardboard sleeve (featuring the product name on one side and an image of the Happy Rabbit on the other) surrounds a heavy, black cardboard case with the words ‘get happy’ printed on the lid in black gloss lettering.

Inside the main product box, a moulded plastic tray holding the Happy Rabbit, a fabric storage pouch, a mains electrical charger and a set of instructions.

How it looks …

Lizzie
Really lovely to see a toy in a non-pastel shade (black). The moulding of the silicone is neat and tidy with a thin joining seam running the vertical lengths of the insertable section of the shaft.

A solid white plastic base means that the vibrator can be stood up easily and size-wise the rabbit looks good, too: it has an insertable length of 5.25 inches (13.33 centimetres) and a diameter of 1.7 inches (4.32 centimetres).

How it feels …

Lizzie
I tend to use vibrators with Thomas as much as on my own, so my criteria for a good one is a device that’s easy for both of us to operate. Although it may seem that there’s no difference, believe me, there is. If you’re handing over a vibrator to your partner, it has to be well designed for the anatomy it’s stimulating because they can’t feel the sensations it’s actually producing. It’s not like using fingers, which give a much better idea of exactly what and how firmly you’re touching.

Let me lead with this: after approximately 30 seconds with the Happy Rabbit, Thomas was crouched between my legs, his face ten centimetres from my vulva saying ‘There?’ every other breath – to which the response was invariably ‘No’.

Although it looks lovely and the main shaft of the Happy Rabbit is nicely curved at the tip to stimulate the G-Spot, I found the vibrator’s rabbit ears to be very awkwardly positioned. They were just were far too long and, rather than stimulating my clitoris, bypassed it completely and actually poked (silicone bends rather than ‘squishes’) the apex of my labia, where the left and right sides meet, in a way that was distinctly uncomfortable. So much so that I used the word ‘ouch’ and asked Thomas to stop so that I could have a turn at trying to position the Happy Rabbit myself.

Unfortunately, the change of operator didn’t make much difference. Even though I knew where I wanted the rabbit ears to touch, I just couldn’t get them to do so, which was a great shame because the main shaft of the rabbit actually felt very nice. We ended up with Thomas moving the shaft of the vibrator and me pressing my fingers down on the rabbit ears trying to get them touch my clitoris. After about a minute or two of this we turned the Happy Rabbit sideways and got out a bullet vibrator, which I held against my clitoris to bring me to orgasm.

The positive points? The girth on the Happy Rabbit is a good size and length and the curve at the end stimulated my G-Spot very nicely. The vibrations themselves were lovely, too. (The Happy Rabbit runs off three motors – two control the vibrations in the shaft and one the vibrations in the ears) but despite all the mechanics it is very quiet – even more so than my LELO vibrators which, up until this point, have been the best I’ve come across on the noise scale.) Another good feature: the operating buttons. There’s a large one that works on a ‘light switch’ format to control the vibrations in the main shaft – you depress the top and bottom ends to change speeds and programmes and hold it down to turn the vibrator on and off – and a smaller round one that controls the vibrations in the ears.

Any downsides?

Lizzie
Pretty obviously, the position of the rabbit ears. They were in completely the wrong place for me and, although everyone’s anatomy is slightly different, I suspect that others may find this, too.

The verdict?

Lizzie
Disappointing. I had high hopes for this rabbit – it’s silicone (and therefore safe for the body), has a nicely sized shaft, is quiet and is easy to operate. Unfortunately, the main event, the rabbit ears, don’t come anywhere close to hitting the mark (for me at least). If I could take the ears away I think I’d have quite a nice non-rabbit vibrator but because the ears actually cause me discomfort during use, I will likely not use this toy again.

My quest for the perfect rabbit continues …

In summary

Things I liked:

• The materials. The silicone is body-safe and odour-free.
• The girth, length and shape of the main vibrator shaft. Good proportions and stimulates the G-Spot nicely.
• Rechargeable – no need to spend a fortune on AA batteries.

Things I’m not so keen on:

• The size and position of the rabbit ears. They don’t come close to my clitoris and are so high up that they actually poke uncomfortably into the pubic area.

Tickle your fancy? You can buy this item from Lovehoney.

The post A not-so-Happy Rabbit appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.