Articulated artificial left hand and forearm, iron, (previously thought to be owned by Gotz von Berlichingen), possibly German, 1560-1600

Artificial iron arm, once thought to have been owned by Gotz von Berlichingen (1480-1562), the German knight and adventurer who served with the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V against the Turks. Artificial limbs such as these were expensive items made by armourers, and they allowed wearers, who had lost a limb in combat, to continue with their fighting career. Believed to date from 1560-1600, but other examples of these arms have been recognised as later copies.