THIS ENTRY WAS POSTED ON January 31, 2023 BY The Pleasure Chest.
Sex toys have never been better than they are in this moment, right now. It's literally never been easier to buy a sex toy. They've never been more accessible (at least in the western world). They've never been as versatile, discreet, powerful, high-tech and high-quality as they are… RIGHT NOW.
Sex toys have never been less taboo, either. It's becoming more and more normalized to add ‘pick up vibrator at sex toy shop' to your list of errands. We are very lucky to live in this little pocket of time to get to experience the best the sex toy world has to offer. And we haven't even gotten to the fact that they also give you orgasms, which are known to not only feel pretty good, but also provide a myriad of health benefits. Need we say more?
If you've ever given a momentary thought to what early sex toys used to look like even 30 years ago (or 300 or 3,000 years ago) read on for some brief sex toy history on the evolution of the sex toy and how we got to where we are today. We'll also be taking a look at the latest in sex toy technology, from thrusting dildos to Bluetooth-enabled vibrators, to strokers that feature Virtual Reality functions and more!
The Evolution of Sex Toys: The First Sex Toy 29000BC-1800s
Behold: the first sex toy. Or, the first known one, anyway, dated around (drum roll, please…) 29000BC! It was discovered in central Europe and is from the Paleolithic period. Scientists speculate that, due to its ‘realistic size' and smoothness, it was used as a sex aid. We've obviously come a long way since creating sex toys out of stone... or have we? More on this later!
Fun fact: the Kama Sutra was about much more than just tantric sex positions, even though that's all most folks are familiar with. The Kama Sutra was written as a guide to the art of living well and included philosophies and life lessons on finding a life partner, the nature of love and cultivating a sex life. There was a mixture of poetry and prose as well as methods of courtship, guides on flirting, and even instructions on how and when to commit adultery!
In 2017, bronze strap-on dildos and jade butt plugs were discovered in an ancient Han dynasty tomb, dated from 206-220 AD. The bronze dildos were lightweight and probably laced into place with leather or silk thongs. Scientists speculated that the jade plugs were placed in the anal cavities of dead nobles to prevent the loss of vital essences from the body. Any guesses on if they were used as sex aids or for other purposes beforehand? Who's to say!
The creation and popularity of cock rings rose in the 11th century in Asia. The first cock rings were documented to be made from goat's eyelids with the eyelashes still attached. The eyelid rings would've been tied around the base of the shaft and the hardened eyelashes would add stimulation to a partner when thrusting. They still even make these today!
The Evolution of Sex Toys: The Beginning of The Sex Toy Industry 1880s-1980s
Now, let's fast forward to the 1880s when the first electric vibrator was invented by Joseph Mortimer Granville. In the Victorian Era, vibration was used as a treatment for all sorts of ailments, from aggression and impotence to the very common ‘hysteria' which was known to exclusively affect women. Patients were placed on steam-powered vibrating tables (essentially just vibrating the sickness away) before vibrators went electric in 1883 during the Industrial Revolution. Granville's invention was intended for 'male muscles aches,' but consumers had other ideas.
Schematics of the first electric vibrator, later known as 'Granville's Hammer,' invented by Joseph Mortimer Granville in 1883.
By the mid-20th century, there were hundreds of vibrators on the market. They ranged from hand-cranked massagers to hair-dryer-shaped plug-ins with various attachments. They were often advertised as cure-alls for any illness and a necessity for every family; something to keep with your at-home first aid kit as a medical device. They were also sold to femme consumers as beauty products to reduce wrinkles and improve circulation. Another thing vibrators were used to aid was sexual dysfunction. So, they were literally also originally used for what they would be exclusively created for in the future: sexual pleasure! Still, the vibrator sex toy design would improve with time.
Various advertisements for vibrators from the early 20th century.
Two vibrators sold in the 1930s-40s, displayed in the Antique Vibrator Museum.
By the 70s and early 80s, the true purpose of the vibrator was publicly accepted (though not necessarily tolerated, as there was still a lot of stigma surrounding their intended use). This was partially due to the sex positive and Women's Liberation movements of the 60s reclaiming vibrators as recreational sex products supporting female sexuality, rather than medical devices. This sexual revolution era is where we start to see recognizable names and shapes of toys that are still around in various forms today. The Rabbit Habit (created exactly 100 years after the electric vibrator was invented) and the Magic Wand from Vibratex are two examples of iconic toys that have stood the test of time.
Fun fact: the rabbit shape of the external portion of this dual-stimulation vibrator was initially created to get around the obscenity laws in Japan, where it was manufactured. Many of the various bunny-eared toys that came out of this time are still made in some form today!
And the Magic Wand has been the OG in everyone's hearts, helping women orgasm since 1968. Since it was popularized by sex educator Betty Dodson as a masturbation aid, it's become the most recognizable option in the sex toy industry and is universally accepted by many sex therapists and counselors as the number one recommendation, especially for those who have difficulty achieving orgasms.
Sex Educator Betty Dodson showing off the power of the original Magic Wand.
The Evolution of Sex Toys: Present Day
In the last 15 years or so we've started to see vast improvements in the technology of toys across the board. In the 80s and 90s, toys either needed to be plugged in or used 2-4 D batteries to operate. Now, the majority of vibrators have rechargeable capabilities, which allow for stronger and longer-lasting toys (both per session and in the life of the toy overall). It also makes them much easier to travel with!
The variation of toys in general is overwhelming. Now we have anal plugs, cock rings, stokers and pumps, G-spot toys, prostate stimulators; name any body part and there's a toy out there designed to stimulate it.
Wand Massagers
The Magic Wand has had many copycats over the years, but the OG has been one of our bestsellers since we started carrying sex toys in the 70s. Modern technology has allowed the Magic Wand to transform and expand to newer and more powerful iterations. They include the Rechargeable, Plus and Mini versions, all of which have come out within the last 8 years and have quickly become Pleasure Chest staff and customer favorites
Other brands have tossed their hats in the ring to create their own version of the ultimate wand massager. Luxury sex toy brand Le Wand has come out with plug-in, mini and rechargeable models with a sleek and modern feel that other wands are sometimes lacking. They've since expanded their line to include internal G-spot vibrators, stainless steel toys, and even vibrating necklaces. Le Wand puts just as much time and care into the look of their products as the quality and power of them (and boy—are they powerful!).
Thrusting Dildos
Dildos have gone from being carved out of stone to being molded out of silicone and placed around a motor that vibrates, pulses and even thrusts!
Thrusting dildos are penetrative sex toys that have motors which automatically move the toy up and down instead of vibrating in place. There are thrusting dildos with suction cups on the bottom so you can attach them to a surface, dual-stimulating thrusters with added clitoral stimulation, and even shorter thrusting toys with flat bases that are perfect for anal play!
Chakrubs
Remember when dildos used to be made out of stone? Well, sike! They still are. The toys shown above are Chakrubs and they're handcrafted from natural crystals. The healing properties from the crystal stones combine with your sexual energy to create deeper intimacy with your self and partner(s). So, those folks in the Ice Age were certainly onto something!
Strokers
Toys for penis owners are finally starting to catch up to the innovation and variety of toys created for vulva owners. For a long time, masturbation sleeves and rings continued to be made out of porous materials that would only be suitable for 1-5 uses before needing to be replaced. Vibrating strokers were heavy due to the weight of the motors, vibrating rings were bulky due to the size of the motors, etc. But now there are tons of modern options!
Arcwave (from the same family as We-Vibe) is a brand creating sleek strokers for the 21st century. Their designs are discreet and mimic Bluetooth speakers or AI technology like Alexa and Google Assistant. Their materials are high-quality and non-porous, making them durable and easy to clean! The Ion in particular features a suction motor (more on this later) that simulates oral on the frenulum.
Cock Rings
Rings have gone from being made from goat eyelids and stone to leather, silicone and metal materials. Vibrating rings now have bands that are thin and stretchy to be more comfortable and accommodate more sizes. Their motors are slim, lightweight, quiet and strong enough to travel through the length of the penis or any dildo you place the ring on!
Bluetooth & App Toys
There are toys that can be operated via remote control or Bluetooth, allowing its users to play with each other anywhere in the world. This technology has become super popular, especially for achieving play between long-distance partners and allowing folks to practice pleasure safely even during a global pandemic!
Lovense and We-Vibe are two brands with apps that are compatible with their products. You can control toys via the app and completely customize your experience with all the bells and whistles the apps have to offer, like vibrating with music or creating your own vibration patterns. We-Vibe's We Connect app allows you to communicate with your partner through the app and even control multiple toys at once!
Lovense has two apps: Lovense Remote and VibeMate. Lovense Remote works exactly as it sounds—it allows your phone to function as a remote and control up to 10 toys at once. VibeMate features a streaming service with a unique technology which allows their products to connect with webcams. You can sync your toy up with the performer's toy and feel what they feel! Lovense toys are also the number one toys used for interactive camming shows. For instance, cam models can give their viewers control over their toy for a price and put on a show!
Virtual Reality & Interactive Toys
There are even sex toys that include Virtual Reality functions! The brands Svakom and Kiiroo create sex toys that allow you to connect them to live webcams and VR adult content. You can control the toys manually or set them to their automatic feature to let them do the work for you and get a completely immersive experience.
Suction/Air Pressure Toys
A very recent technology, the air-pressure or suction motor toys, simulate oral without over-stimulating the user by pushing and circulating air around the nerves, never making direct contact. This technology was created by Womanizer in 2014 out of a need for change in the sex toy world for more products to focus solely on the clitoris.
Since its creation nearly 10 years ago, it has taken the industry by storm. Now nearly every sex toy company brand has created their own version of the suction toy! Some have lots of bells and whistles, including additional vibrating motors or internal components. Some are more straightforward and beginner friendly. Whichever version you choose to try, one thing is certain: the air pressure toys are here to stay and there are sure to be many more versions to come!
The most recent decades show toys skyrocketing in popularity and being featured more and more often in pop culture. From Sex and the City to Fifty Shades of Grey, sex toys are as mainstream as they'll ever be and seem to finally be received as at the very least neutral by the general public, if not as a positive mainstay. You can find vibrators from all sorts of sex toy companies at your local stores like Target and Walgreens. Sex toys go viral on the internet!
The increase of toy purchases made online shows that consumers enjoy the convenience and privacy of the experience and the ability to find something specific to their needs without having to shop in-person. Adult stores have evolved from seedy, secretive windowless spaces to high-end boutiques with industry specialists equipped with the knowledge to find you exactly what you're looking for.
In a perfect world, sex toys would not be stigmatized and education regarding their use and pleasure in general would be provided to all. We still have room to grow as far as those things are concerned. But suffice it to say, we've progressed exponentially since stone dildos and vibrating tables.