History of Sex Machines 

The history of artificial sexual aids dates back to prehistoric times, with the oldest dildos found in Germany. Ancient Greeks and Romans used phallic objects, while the first true sex machines emerged in the 18th century, disguised as medical devices for treating “hysteria.” Vibrators began with steam-powered models like The Manipulator in 1880, leading to electric versions by the early 1900s. Today, historical devices are preserved in museums, reflecting their evolution. Continue reading History of Sex Machines 

William Seabrook: The Occult Sadist

William Seabrook (1884–1945), occult journalist and BDSM pioneer, ritualized bondage as mystical ecstasy among Surrealists. He commissioned Man Ray’s 1930 Fantasies series, featuring Lee Miller collared by Maison Worth. The infamous 1929 Paris staircase incident chained a submissive for voyeuristic photos. His transcendent sadism legacy persists despite tragic suicide. Continue reading William Seabrook: The Occult Sadist

Mata Hari: The Myth, the Dancer, the Scapegoat

Margaretha Zelle, born in 1876 in Leeuwarden, escaped an abusive marriage by reinventing herself as Mata Hari, Paris’s most celebrated exotic dancer and courtesan. In 1917 France, desperate for a scapegoat, executed her as a German spy on flimsy evidence. Survivor, performer, myth: the original femme fatale was simply a woman trying to live.

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Mysteries of the Verbena House

In the dim hallways of Victorian England, where strict decorum hid the most intense cravings, a notorious piece of early BDSM literature appeared: Mysteries of the Verbena House. It first saw the light of day in 1882 under the pen name “Etonensis” (a cheeky reference to the elite Eton College) where the rod symbolised both authority and hidden excitement. The novel has since become a landmark … Continue reading Mysteries of the Verbena House

 A Visual History of BDSM in Film Promotion

Imagine The Godfather with Don Corleone bound in silk ropes, or Pulp Fiction’s dancers locked in a steel cage. What happens when the silver screen meets the dark room? From the lurid grindhouse prints of the 1960s to today’s glossy streaming thumbnails, BDSM imagery has long been a visual shorthand for transgressive desire. Film titles and promotional posters act as cultural signposts, instantly communicating a … Continue reading  A Visual History of BDSM in Film Promotion