Iron artificial arm, Europe, 1560-1600
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The left forearm and hand of this prosthetic arm are fully articulated. The arm was purchased from the private collection of Noel Hamonic (active 1850-1928) by Henry Wellcome in 1928. When Hamonic collected the arm, it was thought to have belonged to Götz von Berlichingen (1480-1562). Berlichingen was a German knight who famously lost an arm at the battle of Landshut in 1503 but who subsequently had his armourer make a metal replacement. Research has shown that Berlichingen actually lost his right arm so it was unlikely that he would have owned this prosthetic left arm.
Object number:
A121449
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: prostheses
Artificial body parts, or materials inserted into tissue for functional, cosmetic, or therapeutic effect. Prostheses can be functional (artificial arms and legs), or cosmetic (artificial eye).
Glossary: artificial arm
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