Thursday, September 1, 2011

The Hand

The gifted Michael R. Gordon brings us this well preserved hand .


5 comments:

  1. The splotchy skin is a nice touch.

    Wonder what its made of? Something flexible obviously or it wouldn't fit through the openign of the jar.

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  2. I like the rings on the hand and the Nosferatu-like length of the fingers. It’s all very eldritch. Things in bottles are not new and the most famous 19th century bottled nasties I can think of were outlaws. Joaquin Murrieta and Three Fingered Jack were early California bandits and to an extent, folk heroes. From 1850 to 1853 the bandits were hunted in the Sierras and wild stories proliferated. Three Finger Jack (Manuel Garcia) who played a minor, if grisly, role in the Bear Flag revolt and is credited with numerous atrocious murders. Eventually they were killed and in order to claim the reward with proof positive Murrieta was decapitated and three Fingered Jack's mutilated hand was amputated and embalmed in alcohol. The grisly items were used to redeem the reward and the bottles containing the relics went on tour throughout the state. I understand the hand of Three Finger Jack was displayed in San Francisco and was destroyed during the earthquake and subsequent fire. For a fuller version of the story try http://www.inn-california.com/articles/biographic/murrietabionotes.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joaquin_Murrieta

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  3. Sir or Madam, I have absolutely no idea where it is you pick up these freakishly delightful unspeakable horrors, but they always manage to fill me with joy. Carry on.

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  4. Not sure what to think of the rings. Would an archaeologist not try to remove them before sealing the hand in a jar with the intentions of keeping it there indefinitely? However, it does add a little something extra to the hand itself. Conventions or not, it's a great prop.

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  5. Love the rings... Not sure I'd dive in after them, though. Does the gold one have an opal in it? It's a bit difficult to tell.

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