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