Museum of Eroticism

French sex museum in Paris

Musée de l'érotisme, 72 boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement

Museum of Eroticism (French: Musée de l'érotisme) was a sex museum in Paris devoted to the erotic art collections of antique dealer Alain Plumey and French teacher Jo Khalifa. It opened on 8 November 1997,[1][2] and closed its doors on November 7, 2016.[3]

## History

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Founded in 1997, the museum was situated in the Pigalle district of Paris, at 72 Boulevard de Clichy, around 100m from the Moulin Rouge.[2][4] The building was a former cabaret venue.[1] The collection ranged from the ancient religious art of India, Japan and Africa right up to contemporary art with an erotic focus. There were five floors, including a basement exhibition. One floor was devoted to the history of maisons closes, the legal brothels of the 19th and early 20th century.[5] The museum contained around 2000 exhibits.[2] Children under 16 were not allowed in the museum.[2]

The film Polisson et galipettes was shown; it is a collection of pornographic shorts formerly exhibited in the maisons closes. The upper two floors had revolving exhibitions, mainly of contemporary artists.[1] It was visited by the main character in the novel Merde Actually, the sequel to A Year in the Merde.[6]

In 2013, erotic artist Namio Harukawa exhibited "Garden of Domina" at the museum, which featured art of dominatrixes facesitting on submissive males.[7][8]

After the owner of the building refused to renew the lease, the museum closed to the public on November 6, 2016, and the entire collection was auctioned off.[9]

## Gallery

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* Multiple objects related to sexuality with five pieces of pottery from ancient Greece

* A miniature erotic scene at the museum

* A phallic carving on display at The Erotic Museum, Paris

* Erotic Photos

## See also

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* List of museums in Paris
* List of sex museums

## References

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1. ^ a b c "Musee de l'Erotisme museum in Paris of Erotic Art - CLOSED". www.eutouring.com. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
2. ^ a b c d "Museum of Eroticism, Paris, France | World Building Directory | Buildings". www.building.am. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
3. ^ "After attaining adulthood, France's only sex museum closes". The Indian Express. 8 November 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
4. ^ « Le musée des plaisirs intimes », L'Express, août 2000.
5. ^ "Museum of Eroticism". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
6. ^ A Nice Mix of Art, History and Sex Archived 2011-06-09 at the Wayback Machine, Metropole Paris, 16 January 2004
7. ^ Giard, Agnès (15 July 2013). "Une exposition de face-sitting à Paris". Libération. Retrieved 20 Jul 2018.
8. ^ "Fesses en pleine face". Libération. 16 Jul 2013. Retrieved 20 Jul 2018.
9. ^ "Paris perd son Musée de l'Erotisme: ses collections coquines aux enchères". L'Express (in French). 3 November 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2023.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Musée de l'érotisme.

* Museum website

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Sex museums

Asia|

* Antarang Museum
* India
* Love Land
* China
* Love Land
* South Korea

Europe|

* Beate Uhse Erotic Museum
* Germany
* Erotic Art Museum
* Germany
* Icelandic Phallological Museum
* Iceland
* Museum Erotica
* Denmark
* Museum of Eroticism
* France
* Museum of Sexual Cultures
* Ukraine
* Schwules Museum
* Germany
* Sex Machines Museum
* Czech Republic
* Sexmuseum Amsterdam
* Netherlands
* Vagina Museum
* England

North America|

* Erotic Heritage Museum
* United States
* Hollywood Erotic Museum
* United States
* Kinsey Institute
* United States
* Leather Archives & Museum
* United States
* Museum of Sex
* United States
* World Erotic Art Museum
* United States

Others|

* Secret Museum
* collection in the National Archaeological Museum, Italy
* Secretum
* collection in the British Museum, England
* Vaginamuseum
* virtual museum

48°53′1.2″N 2°20′1.5″E﻿ / ﻿48.883667°N 2.333750°E﻿ / 48.883667; 2.333750
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