An Artificial Arm From Victorian England

This late 19th century artificial limb from the Victorian England era gives us the willies. It was used as a prosthetic arm for a victim of war or disease, and is now on display at the London Science Museum. Considering it’s one OLD artificial limb made of steel and brass, the elbow joint could be released by adjusting a spring, and the wrist could be rotated to simulate natural movement. The amputee wearing the arm would likely have used a glove to disguise the creepy, metal fingers that have bendable joints, and of course, a long sleeved shirt would be worn to hide the metal bracket. We think this arm is undeniably creepy and looks like a prop from a weird steam-punk film, but it’s intriguing design adds to its historical significance – it surely provided an amputee from the Victorian era with the ability to blend in, and for that, we’re grateful.

The iron-clad artificial arm from 1560-1600 allows for less natural movement, but may appear more realistic when covered with clothing and a glove.

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