Stocks

Historically, stocks date back to the Middle Ages and were devices used to restrain and publicly display a punished person. They served mainly to humiliate and, in some cases, to inflict physical punishment. In this context, the stocks represent a form of public punishment and should not be romanticized.

In BDSM, “stocks” refers to a restraint or immobilization device that may be modeled on the historical form, for example as a wooden or metal frame with openings for the head and hands. Such furniture is used for positioning and control during consensual play. Stable construction, secure restraint, clear agreements, and emergency options are essential; the device must never be used carelessly, and prolonged immobilization can strain circulation, nerves, and joints.