The Aphrodite Collection:
A magnificent, anonymous gift
Sculptures, paintings, figurines, prints, drawings, a cane collection with erotic ivory handles, and tons of rare art books and literature are all part of the phenomenal new collection on display now at the Erotic Heritage Museum here in Las Vegas. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite was the goddess of love, beauty and sexuality. The collection is appropriately named as some items are sexy, some sensual, others lustful, and you may even find some to be ribald. Some of the artifacts date back to the 14th century. There are figures of beautiful women, female-and-female or female-and-male, but it’s obvious that the owner of this massive work had a genuine love of women, their sexuality, and what incites lust in a man.
How this amazing collection of erotica ended up here in Vegas is a story that Dr. Ted McIlvenna, Museum Curator for the Erotic Heritage Museum, tells excitedly. Dr. Ted explained that a mutual friend had told him that this anonymous collector wanted to donate his erotic items to the Erotic Heritage Museum (EHM) and would he please come and meet with the owner and examine the collection. He agreed to go and see it, but didn’t believe it was possible that the artifacts he was being told about were actually going to be there. “I had absolutely no idea that this vast amount of erotica would be in the hands of one person. This collector had traveled the world and he was a very, very rich man who had more money than he knew what to do with, so he acquired pieces that have never before been seen by the general public. There are many rare historical art books on adult cinema and its stars, and magazines. We want people to examine the material and books thoroughly, but because so much of it is so rare and we want to preserve it, patrons will be asked to wear special vinyl gloves, which will be provided.”
"The Aphrodite Collection is the most significant private collection I have ever seen. It is one man’s statement of what he has seen in his lifetime as a constant celebration of the images of sex. The collector had a great erotic eye." ~Dr. Ted McIlvenna
Dr. Rand McIlvenna, the Museum Media Director and son of Dr. Ted, became the person in charge of packing and driving across country to deliver over 3,000 precious erotic items to the EHM. He explained: “I was amazed by the quality and variety of the art pieces. There are exquisite bronze pieces and an incredible walking cane collection with ivory handles.”
Once the precious pieces arrived, a team of erotic art experts and the EHM staff worked tirelessly to unwrap and decide how to display such valuables for the grand opening that took place in July. It will continue to be a long journey for those involved, since this collection is just part of about 7,000 pieces. Everyone at the EHM was brimming over with enthusiasm as they showed me piece after piece. There were remarkable moving pieces that could have been displayed during prim and proper times, where it appeared innocent enough, like the figurine of a woman in a skirt: a traditional figurine until one lifts the woman’s skirt, only to display her uncovered genitalia. Another is a partially nude woman, and if you pull out one of the drawers, a tiny demon figure pops up and he’s on top of a woman.
Dorian Gomez, Art Director and Resident Curator said: “This collection truly celebrates and explores the female form in its entirety with an amazing attention to detail,” guiding me to the statue of a human head depicting a mass orgy – a loving pile of mini-bodies with ravenous sexual appetites that form a face. The magnificent piece (pictured) is titled Introspection by Gregory Beck. There’s an erotic ashtray with a swastika on it. There’s a lovely Adam and Eve bronze with a button you push and they close together and embrace. A large statue of a prostrate, bound and blindfolded woman catches my eye. “It’s amazing how they’ve captured the fishnet feeling with the lace on top, Gomez says. “You don’t see a lot of fine art taking the spin of BDSM in a way that’s really beautiful. It doesn’t offend the senses.”
Jane Hamilton, Associate Curator of Erotic Folklore said: “This collection shows so much passion for the female form and erotica!! I really enjoy the kitschy part of the collection—it represents how we as a culture deal with sexuality—mostly by making fun of it!” “Petals”, a series of sepia-toned prints, celebrates the diversity of female genitalia in explicit detail. “That’s so important for women to see,” Hamilton insists. “We get these glossy, air-brushed images all the time. Women need to know that they’re all different. It makes them feel beautiful about themselves.”
Scholars and students gathered for the July opening from all over the U.S. and as far away as Poland, Austria, China and Australia. There are plans for a reading room for Museum Members and scholars to study, research, and see things that are not readily available anywhere else in the world. Dr. Amanda Morgan, Sexuality Educator added: “The broad range of topics found in the new collection, including many educational books, will benefit the museum and the community, and let people expand their sexual knowledge.”
To spend an afternoon or evening at the EHM is highly recommended! Give yourself enough time to really look around and see the amazing treasures they’re housing. Staff members are always available to share their knowledge with you. SLV
Erotic Heritage Museum
3275 Industrial Road, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Museum Hours: Sun and Tue–Thu 11am-4pm;
Fri & Sat 12pm-10pm; Closed Monday
Issue 65 featuring: Zoe Voss, Jessie Andrews & Virginia Mae |
