The member of the star now occupies a prominent place among the some 400 genitalia already on display in the establishment: penises of cetaceans locked in Plexiglas tubes, phallus of a raccoon immersed in formaldehyde, bronze sculptures of sexes of the Icelandic handball team that won silver at the Beijing Olympics in 2008...

The curious can observe the new jewel, displayed in a glass cube, from all angles and photograph it with their phone.

At the origin of this work: the artist Cynthia Albritton, nicknamed "Cynthia the plaster maker", who made the casts of nearly 50 phalluses of rock personalities.

A certificate of authenticity describes the object as an almost perfect copy of the original version made in 1968 -- and reproduced in eight copies -- two years before Jimi Hendrix's death.

The musician, whose repertoire includes titles like "Foxy Lady" and "Hey Joe", succumbed to an overdose in 1970, at the age of 27.

A poster of American guitarist Jimi Hendrix at the Marquee club in London, September 16, 2004 Nicolas ASFOURI AFP/Archives

"It is certainly one of our most precious pieces in terms of monetary value," said AFP Thórdur Ólafur Thórdarson, assistant curator of the phallological museum which nevertheless contains the priceless organs of certain rare species of whales.

"We are extremely lucky to have him," adds the chief phallologist.

“Cynthia the plaster maker” agreed to donate this piece before her death in April, persuaded by a couple from her neighborhood who had visited the museum in downtown Reykjavik.

"They thought it would be a great opportunity for her to leave a permanent legacy," says Thórdarson.

Donations from visitors are the source of many items in the museum's collection.

The cast was unveiled in an intimate private ceremony in early June.

"It's funny," smiles British tourist Steven Warren.

"After all, why not? He's a famous character, I'm even surprised they only have him".

Frenchman Pascal Podwojewski says he does not believe "that History will remember the size of his penis, it will remember his music more."

© 2022 AFP