The St Andrews cross is one of the most common pieces of SM equipment and can be found in virtually every Femdom dungeon and club. It is simple to construct, relatively cheap, and very effective in securing someone. Crosses can be made from either metal or wood and can be free standing or fixed to a wall. All crosses will have attachment points at the extremities for wrist and ankle cuffs; the more sophisticated versions will have adjustable foot rests allowing people of different heights to be bound. Waist, arm, and thigh straps are sometimes added to further restrict the sub’s movement.
Submissives can be bound either facing the cross, suitable for whipping, or bound facing out, suitable for genital or nipple torture.
The St Andrews cross is a very effective piece of kit. Properly bound, the sub will have very little scope for movement. By pulling the arms and legs away from the body the position becomes very open and exposed; they will be unable to protect themselves from whatever the dominant wants to do to them. For this reason, there is a very strong D/s element to any bondage involving a St Andrews cross.
The disadvantage of a St Andrews cross is the tendency of the bound person when tired to hang from their wrists. This makes extended scenes involving a cross problematic. The use of thigh cuffs and crotch ropes can help support the bound person’s weight and mitigate this problem to some extent.
A seated cross combines elements of a bondage chair and a St Andrews cross and is found in the dungeons of many clubs. The chair is designed to hold the captive immobile in a seated position whilst allowing easy access to their genitals. As captives are seated, it allows them to be left bound for a greater length of time that would be possible on a cross.
Article and Image MissBonnie © CollarNcuffs.com
Further Reading:
A frame ~
Cages ~
Whipping post ~
Pillory ~
Sawhorse ~
Stocks ~