Anne off to UK to film on Theresa Berkley's salon & 18th-19th Century flagellants for Sky TV

Nov 9

Anne O Nomis is just about to head off to the UK to film a segment for Sky TV’s new series on the History of Sex, appearing on the topic of the 18th - 19th Century female flagellant Governesses.

The show has involved her doing the set design of famed historical Dominatrix Theresa Berkley’s salon, based on the original sources describing her equipment. It’s thus been weeks of Anne sourcing antique curry combs and commissioning replica battledores made from sole leather with nails driven through, and cat-o’-nine-tails based on historic examples from prison and admiralty museums in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. One of the main implements used however was famously birch rods, made of bundles of birch twigs and tied together to create a handle, and which were used for corporal punishment in the historical era.

Birches were not the only “botanical” item however. Theresa Berkley’s studio featured holly, furze, butcher’s brush and seasonally stinging nettles - laid out in glass and china vases.

However the most famous item of Berkley’s studio was the so-called “Berkley’s Horse”; a whipping frame named after her. While the production schedule didn’t provide with sufficient time to create one anew, Anne managed to acquire a historical trestles ladder which is being “converted” for the purpose, and trestles are documented as being used prior to the invention so is very much true to the tradition.

The “fetish” details of the era are also not forgotten - drawn from erotic flagellation texts of the era, in the wearing of purple gloves to signal the transmission into Dominance, and the nosegay bouquet of aphrodisiac flowers.

For those in London, you can see a presentation on Theresa Berkley’s salon at the Freud Museum London private event talk, on Tuesday 22nd November from 6.00 - 7.40 pm (by advance ticket - to purchase click here.) She will also be presenting on her new work on the “Ki”, under her other hat, examining the role of Sex, Fear and Arousal and how people’s responses are playing out in BDSM bottoms roles and psychologies.