Ancient Sex Dolls

The sexual use of inanimate objects designed in human likeness has deep historical roots, dates back to ancient Greece. The tale, as a part of Ovid’s epic poem Metamorphoses in 8 A.D. Pinocchio, goes like this: A sculptor carves a statue in the shape of a beautiful woman. It’s so beautiful that he falls in love with her, prays that she could become real, has his wish granted, and lives happily ever after.

Some of the first sex dolls were invented by Dutch sailors in the 17th century who would be isolated at sea during long voyages. These masturbatory dolls, known as dame de voyage in French, or dama de viaje in Spanish were made of sewn cloth or old clothes and were a direct predecessor to today's sex dolls. The Dutch sold some of these dolls to Japanese people during the Rangaku period, and the term "Dutch wives" is still sometimes used in Japan to refer to sex dolls.

Modern Sex Dolls

Dolls and statues created and used for sexual purposes are cross-cultural
phenomena in various forms for centuries. Until the emergence of the modern sex dolls, records of sales are found only in rumored accounts of sex doll use, and antique advertisements, such as the one translated by Henry Carey from a Paris circular in 1902.It advertises the sale of a complete, custom sex doll made to fit customer specifications:
“All moves, arms, legs, buttocks, head, eyes; a perfect likeness of the person whose photograph is sent…the complete apparatus, guaranteed against breakage, man or woman, 3000 francs”

In the United States, sex dolls were first advertised in porn magazines around 1968, when it became legal to sell sexual devices through the mail. By the 1980s, they could be found in most sex shops—though they were the inflatable kind, more suited to be gag gifts at a frat party than to actually withstand sex with a person.

The realism and utility of sex dolls took a giant leap forward in the late 90s, when artist Matt McMullen created the first modern lifelike silicone sex dolls. Since then, silicone is the main material for manufacturing realistic sex dolls and it still remains one of the most popular materials now.TPE (Thermoplastic elastomers) is another type of plastic that became very popular for sex dolls in the last few years as well. Because of the characteristics of TPE material, the TPE sex dolls on the market is even more than silicone dolls.

New Era of Sex Dolls-Sexbots

When sex dolls become more and more realistic on feeling and appearance, people start to think about sex dolls who can communicate with human beings and know their hopes, desires and etc.

In 2006, Dr. Henrik Christensen, the chairman of the European Robotics Network at the Royal Institute of Technology, at the University of Stockholm, predicted that “in the next five years” humans would be having sex with robots.

In 2017, Matt McMullen has created a sex doll called "Harmony" which has the capability of learning about the preferences, wants, and desires of the owner. Furthermore, Harmony can smile, blink and frown in a nearly humanlike fashion. She can hold a conversation with you, tell jokes, remember your food preferences, and the names of your siblings.

Now, various new models have been constructed to hold conversations, remember important facts, and express various emotions.

Imagine the ancient Greek or Dutch sailor crossed the time tunnel to meet "Harmony" now, what will they say?