The vanvera was a leather bag that was used to hide the smell and sound of gases. It was worn mainly by aristocratic women in Italy.

The European aristocracy in the 17th century also suffered from a universal human problem: flatulence. To camouflage their fumes and maintain decorum, the elites were willing to invent uniquely elaborate solutions.

A little-known historical device called nonsense it was the go-to choice when it came to hiding bodily functions that no one dared mention in public.

The vanvera was a real object, not a myth, designed for a specific purpose: contain silently and discreetly flatulence during social situations. A copy of the device is on display at the Sex Machines Museum in Prague. It consists of a small leather bag worn close to the body, positioned to capture both sound and smell. When the user was alone, the bag could be emptied manually.

According to historical accounts cited by , the vanvera was most often associated with upper-class women. The voluminous, layered dresses of the time made it easier to disguise the device, allowing aristocratic women to participate in long dinners and social gatherings. without running the risk of embarrassment.

Although some legends attribute its origins to ancient Egypt or Rome, historians have not found solid evidence to support these claims. What is best established is its presence in Europe during the 17th century, particularly in Italywhere strict etiquette governed almost every aspect of social life.

Vanvera variations ranged from simple to extravagant. While many relied on the basic leather bag, wealthier families invested in more elaborate solutions. Some aristocrats installed piping systems connected to your bedsdesigned to channel nighttime gases out through windows and into the open air. Such systems reflected a time when reputation and social status took precedence over concerns about comfort or practicality.

Not all models were successful. An experimental version involved a metal device embedded in underwear and filled with dried herbs such as lavender, rosemary and sage. The intention was to neutralize odors, producing what was optimistically described as a “breeze from the fields of Provence.” Although the aroma improved, the device was unable to muffle the sound, making it socially ineffective and short-lived.

Although vanvera eventually disappeared with the evolution of fashion and improved sanitary conditions, offers a revealing glimpse into historical attitudes toward our bodily functions.

The vanvera was a leather bag that was used to hide the smell and sound of gases. It was worn mainly by aristocratic women in Italy.

The European aristocracy in the 17th century also suffered from a universal human problem: flatulence. To camouflage their fumes and maintain decorum, the elites were willing to invent uniquely elaborate solutions.

A little-known historical device called nonsense it was the go-to choice when it came to hiding bodily functions that no one dared mention in public.

The vanvera was a real object, not a myth, designed for a specific purpose: contain silently and discreetly flatulence during social situations. A copy of the device is on display at the Sex Machines Museum in Prague. It consists of a small leather bag worn close to the body, positioned to capture both sound and smell. When the user was alone, the bag could be emptied manually.

According to historical accounts cited by , the vanvera was most often associated with upper-class women. The voluminous, layered dresses of the time made it easier to disguise the device, allowing aristocratic women to participate in long dinners and social gatherings. without running the risk of embarrassment.

Although some legends attribute its origins to ancient Egypt or Rome, historians have not found solid evidence to support these claims. What is best established is its presence in Europe during the 17th century, particularly in Italywhere strict etiquette governed almost every aspect of social life.

Vanvera variations ranged from simple to extravagant. While many relied on the basic leather bag, wealthier families invested in more elaborate solutions. Some aristocrats installed piping systems connected to your bedsdesigned to channel nighttime gases out through windows and into the open air. Such systems reflected a time when reputation and social status took precedence over concerns about comfort or practicality.

Not all models were successful. An experimental version involved a metal device embedded in underwear and filled with dried herbs such as lavender, rosemary and sage. The intention was to neutralize odors, producing what was optimistically described as a “breeze from the fields of Provence.” Although the aroma improved, the device was unable to muffle the sound, making it socially ineffective and short-lived.

Although vanvera eventually disappeared with the evolution of fashion and improved sanitary conditions, offers a revealing glimpse into historical attitudes toward our bodily functions.