Southern German, probably Franconia, circa 1505-1515

Marquard Eustach Freiherr von Hornstein (1722-1806) and his wife, Anna Schertel von Burtenbach (1736-1773);
thence by descent to the present owner, Schloss Grüningen, Upper Swabia

L. Löffler, Der Ersatz für die obere Extremität: Die Entwicklung von den ersten Zeugnissen bis heute, Stuttgart, 1984, pp. 14-17

Overall the condition of the object is good, with wear and some dirt consistent with use and age. The lower arm part may be detached from the iron sleeve. The elbow joint functions. By using the iron pins on the palm it was possible to move two of the four front fingers at a time into a straight or a clutching position; this mechanism no longer functions, and the index and middle finger are in a lower position than the ring and little finger. The joint between the metal hand and the wooden lower arm is slightly loose but stable. There is some evidence of past worming to the wooden arm. There is particular wear, including minor losses, to the wood around the opening which allows for the steel plate of the elbow joint to be moved, and around the edge of the wood below the elbow. There is wear to the polychromy on the metal hand, including a few areas of loss where the darkened iron underneath is visible, notably on the wrist, the palm, the knuckle of the index finger, and the finger tips. There are several nicks and scratches to the metal of the hand. There is darkening and some corrosion to the iron sleeve throughout. The metal has slightly warped in areas, in particular around the edges, and there is a small fissure to the edge of the shorter side of the sleeve below the elbow plate. There is wear, including discolouration and fraying, to the remaining leather strap; the other strap is lost.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This extraordinary survival is among the earliest examples of a technically accomplished prosthetic upper limb. Designed for an individual who has lost the right arm at the elbow, the prosthetic is particularly rare in its inclusion of an iron sleeve for the remaining upper arm, which joins with the lower-arm part through a gear mechanism that allowed the wearer to adjust the angle of the 'elbow'. It was also possible, by pressing the metal buttons on the palm, to move the four front fingers – individually as pairs – into a clutching position. The lower arm is wooden, while the hand itself is composed of iron, with painted and partially modelled knuckles, joints, and nails.

The so-called Grüninger Hand has historically been associated with the infamous Franconian knight Götz von Berlichingen (1480-1562), who vividly described the loss of his lower right arm at the siege of the city of Landshut in 1504, and became known for his use of an iron prosthetic hand following this incident. Götz 'of the iron hand' rose to national fame in the 18th century, when Johann Wolfgang von Goethe published a play about the historical figure, prompting the return of the two recorded prosthetic hands that he had worn to the Berlichingen family in 1788. The two hands belonging to Berlichingen, now on display at Jagsthausen Castle, had until then been in the possession of Marquard Freiherr von Hornstein, who also owned, and kept, the present arm. It is however thought to be unlikely that the present limb was worn by Götz, as the inclusion of an elbow is inconsistent with his injury. Nevertheless, it has been argued that the Grüninger Hand was produced in the same workshop as the older of Berlichingen’s 'hands' due to close similarities in facture and function (Löffler, op. cit.). This, coupled with the provenance, leaves open the tantalising possibility that Götz von Berlichingen also owned the present prosthetic.