Luxury Pleasures
Jacobo Muñoz
/Design: Jacobo Munoz
Liturgy of the erotic
Article by Christina Voss
Catholicism is a richly symbolic religion, and designer Jacobo Muñoz draws upon that visual language for his line of erotic implements called ‘Luxury Pleasures.’ He’s created seven pieces for each day of Genesis.
The line consists of a candle for temperature play, a blindfold to both limit and heighten the senses, a cock ring to encircle the base of the shaft, a dildo for penetration, a feather necklace for sensual stimulation, a whip for a spark of erotic pain, and a journal for your personal records. But each piece is loaded with symbolism his use of color, material, shape, and function, which I'll unpack here.
Candle - On the first day, God created light…
The candle is made of white beeswax with a silver foot, shaped to catch and pour melted wax. The white refers to the purity of virgin flesh, and it's rounded at one end so it can be used as a dildo.
There's a certain beauty in using an object that symbolizes purity for penetration, and the flame serves several functions, from ambiance to temperature play.
Blindfold - On the second day, God created the heavens…
His blindfold is made of blue and green silk, one side embroidered like the liturgical stole worn by priests. The blue represents the sky and the Virgin Mary, who is often depicted in a blue cloak. (As an aside, the reason blue was often chosen as the color for Mary’s robe is because that deep blue was achieved with lapus lazuli, one of the most expensive pigments. Also, in Byzantium, it was the color worn by empresses.) And green was often used as an honorific backdrop for the Virgin Mary with Child, like Giovanni Bellini's Madonna and Child (1487).
This can be used as a part of erotic ritual, mirroring the liturgical practice of priests. It can be worn around the neck, draped over the eyes, and can be used for light bondage.
Cock Ring - On the third day, God created earth…
The ring is made of ebony and suspended from a silver necklace. The material, ebony, is earthy, and the shape alludes to the union between God and man, as well as the circle of life. The material also alludes to the ‘Black Madonnas’ - Virgin Mary sculptures carved of ebony - sometimes believed to derive from pre-Christian earth goddesses, or goddesses of fertility. The necklace consists of thirty-three links, reminiscent of the rosary with thirty-three beads for each year of Christ’s life. So, in effect, this is a rosary with both meditative and erotic applications.
A cock ring is typically used to harden and sustain and erection, but it also carries suggestions of ownership.
Glass Dildo - On the fourth day, God separated day from night and created the stars…
Suspended within the glass dildo is a streak of 24k gold leaf. The shape is inspired by the horns of Moses, alluding to strength and wisdom, as well as the horns of the devil, alluding to destruction - it's an object of oppositions. (Due to a translation error during the medieval period, it was believed that Moses had horns and was depicted with them in art. The more accurate translation is that Moses was crowned with light.) And given the size and heft of this piece, its connection to stars is fairly appropriate.
The line consists of a candle for temperature play, a blindfold to both limit and heighten the senses, a cock ring to encircle the base of the shaft, a dildo for penetration, a feather necklace for sensual stimulation, a whip for a spark of erotic pain, and a journal for your personal records. But each piece is loaded with symbolism his use of color, material, shape, and function, which I'll unpack here.
So, in effect, this is a rosary with both meditative and erotic applications.
The candle is made of white beeswax with a silver foot, shaped to catch and pour melted wax. The white refers to the purity of virgin flesh, and it's rounded at one end so it can be used as a dildo.
There's a certain beauty in using an object that symbolizes purity for penetration, and the flame serves several functions, from ambiance to temperature play.
Blindfold - On the second day, God created the heavens…
His blindfold is made of blue and green silk, one side embroidered like the liturgical stole worn by priests. The blue represents the sky and the Virgin Mary, who is often depicted in a blue cloak. (As an aside, the reason blue was often chosen as the color for Mary’s robe is because that deep blue was achieved with lapus lazuli, one of the most expensive pigments. Also, in Byzantium, it was the color worn by empresses.) And green was often used as an honorific backdrop for the Virgin Mary with Child, like Giovanni Bellini's Madonna and Child (1487).
This can be used as a part of erotic ritual, mirroring the liturgical practice of priests. It can be worn around the neck, draped over the eyes, and can be used for light bondage.
Cock Ring - On the third day, God created earth…
The ring is made of ebony and suspended from a silver necklace. The material, ebony, is earthy, and the shape alludes to the union between God and man, as well as the circle of life. The material also alludes to the ‘Black Madonnas’ - Virgin Mary sculptures carved of ebony - sometimes believed to derive from pre-Christian earth goddesses, or goddesses of fertility. The necklace consists of thirty-three links, reminiscent of the rosary with thirty-three beads for each year of Christ’s life. So, in effect, this is a rosary with both meditative and erotic applications.
A cock ring is typically used to harden and sustain and erection, but it also carries suggestions of ownership.
Glass Dildo - On the fourth day, God separated day from night and created the stars…
Suspended within the glass dildo is a streak of 24k gold leaf. The shape is inspired by the horns of Moses, alluding to strength and wisdom, as well as the horns of the devil, alluding to destruction - it's an object of oppositions. (Due to a translation error during the medieval period, it was believed that Moses had horns and was depicted with them in art. The more accurate translation is that Moses was crowned with light.) And given the size and heft of this piece, its connection to stars is fairly appropriate.
Candle with silver base (Photo: Roberto Grecco)
Feather Necklace - On the fifth day, God created the birds and the fish…
The necklace is made of silver, pink gold, and rooster feathers, inspired by St. Francis and his connection to animals. The feathers symbolize the resurrection of Christ, symbolism that might be connected with the ancient belief that the peacock’s flesh never decayed. Also, in medieval liturgy, priests used a fan (flabellum) made of feathers, so it has a connection to religious ritual.
The feathers of the necklace can be used to stroke the skin, and it can be worn to hang down both the front and the back, accentuating the space between the breasts and the curve of the spine. The association with resurrection is interesting, since light touch wakes up the nerve endings and stimulates the surface.
Whip - On the sixth day, God created man…
The whip is made of human hair, from India, with a marble handle and silver ligatures. Marble alludes to the sepulchre - the tomb - and the altar, to represent the death of Christ, and the whip alludes to penitence and flagellation. The hair is woven into thirty-nine braids, representing the thirty-nine lashes given to sinners.
There's beautiful irony in that, administering erotic pain that parallels punishment for sin. And pain is inherently humbling. One submissive man told me that pain annihilates the ego. Pleasure through destruction.
Semainier - The seventh day is rest…
The semainier is a handmade journal with a black leather cover. It includes the first seven days of Genesis extracted from the first printed edition of the Gutenberg Bible written by St. Jerome, followed by 365 blank pages.
This is for you to write your own story, and to create your own bible.
The necklace is made of silver, pink gold, and rooster feathers, inspired by St. Francis and his connection to animals. The feathers symbolize the resurrection of Christ, symbolism that might be connected with the ancient belief that the peacock’s flesh never decayed. Also, in medieval liturgy, priests used a fan (flabellum) made of feathers, so it has a connection to religious ritual.
The feathers of the necklace can be used to stroke the skin, and it can be worn to hang down both the front and the back, accentuating the space between the breasts and the curve of the spine. The association with resurrection is interesting, since light touch wakes up the nerve endings and stimulates the surface.
Whip - On the sixth day, God created man…
The whip is made of human hair, from India, with a marble handle and silver ligatures. Marble alludes to the sepulchre - the tomb - and the altar, to represent the death of Christ, and the whip alludes to penitence and flagellation. The hair is woven into thirty-nine braids, representing the thirty-nine lashes given to sinners.
There's beautiful irony in that, administering erotic pain that parallels punishment for sin. And pain is inherently humbling. One submissive man told me that pain annihilates the ego. Pleasure through destruction.
Semainier - The seventh day is rest…
The semainier is a handmade journal with a black leather cover. It includes the first seven days of Genesis extracted from the first printed edition of the Gutenberg Bible written by St. Jerome, followed by 365 blank pages.
This is for you to write your own story, and to create your own bible.
- 07/03/2010
