Victorian Prosthetic Hook Hand

Commonly referenced in the works of Charles Dickens and in 16th century illustrations by Ambroise Paré, prosthetic devices have been worn and utilized since the days of Ancient Egypt. 

Initially made of wood, iron, leather or bronze, these early prosthetics were sometimes crude and often uncomfortable to wear, still, they enabled people return to work or the battlefield as well as to feel accepted in society.

For centuries, prosthetic limbs were primarily available to the affluent. However, due to a surge in amputations as a result of both the Napoleonic Wars and the Industrial Revolution, the development and improvement of prosthetics was deemed a medical necessity. 

For cost effectiveness and practicality purposes, many working class amputees opted for hooks and grabbers instead of the more expensive articulated pieces. These hooks would be fitted by a blacksmith rather than an artificial limb specialist. 

By the end of the Civil War, the number of amputees in the US quadrupled. This further drove the advancement of prosthetics to not only be more comfortable to the wearer but also be more functional for every day life such as making hands removable so wearers could switch them out for tools, cutlery or even corkscrews.

Though difficult to date, we believe this wonderful prosthetic hails from around the 1860s. It has a thick leather arm cuff with laces and buckles, a brass cap, which we chose not to polish to preserve the aged patina, and a hook appendage.  

Inside is a spring mechanism that allows the wearer to adjust the length of the hook. 

This piece has been heavily used and came to us in rough condition. We have cleaned and conditioned the leather in order to preserve it and extend the life of this piece. This prosthetic is not intended for use and should be considered display only.