Rare Set American Civil War Wood Prosthetic Legs + Box

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Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 8, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-10-08 10:00:00 2020-10-08 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-5796
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• Lot Description
  North America, United States, Civil War Period, ca. 1861 to 1865 CE. Two remarkably well preserved wooden prosthetic legs from the American Civil War that purportedly belonged to the same owner, George C. Booth. The first presenting as a single piece of wood with a cylindrical bottom then split to two pieces kept apart by a bulbous wedge of brown textile stuffed with animal fur and fabrics and supported by a wooden slab upheld by bolts. The intriguing piece is reinforced by a metal bolt where the split wood comes together as well as metal upholsters at a quarter of the way down and at the top of each side, presumably to prevent the wood from splicing further. Traces of bodily fluids, possibly from battle, can still be found on the cloth support. The top pieces are coated in polish to protect its user from splinters. First Leg Size: 8.25"" L x 5.125"" W x 28.25"" H (21 cm x 13 cm x 71.8 cm) Second Leg Size: 10.25" L x 5.25" W x 36.25" H (26 cm x 13.3 cm x 92.1 cm) Box Size: 38.5" L x 13" W x 5.75" H (97.8 cm x 33 cm x 14.6 cm)
  
  Unlike the first, the second leg is fashioned to appear as one or, more specifically, as a left leg. It presents as four pieces of carved wood painted the color of white flesh with metal hinges at the knee and ankle. The fourth piece is attached to the tip of the foot to form flexible painted toes, complete with toenails! The hollow prosthetic limb also features a leather sole and strappings at the top for attachment and is accompanied with its original wooden box. Two historic pieces on the market just in time for Halloween! [br] [br]The first leg is in a more primitive form compared to others of the time, likely due to the immediacy of need during battle. The second leg was purchased by the owner via an allotment from the US government granted to Union amputees as a replacement for the first. This set of legs is a great representation of the increase in necessity for artificial limbs during the Civil War, which gave birth to the prosthetics industry.
  
  Accompanied with a document that states, "George C. Booth / Co. K 10th NY / Died August 21, 1866 (26)".
  
  Provenance: private Glorieta, New Mexico, USA collection - Accompanied with a document that states, "George C. Booth / Co. K 10th NY / Died August 21, 1866 (26)".
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #159542

  Condition

  The first leg has holes on both sides of cloth support as well as where it meets the wood and splintering on one side of wood. The second leg has chipping to paint with stains to top, inner thigh, and foot. Both have minor nicks/chips and abrasions throughout due to age and use with a Russet patina on metal pieces and encrustations throughout. Otherwise, intact and very good.
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