Accession No

5862

Brief Description

framed and enlarged model of a hand, labelled with the amount of compensation (in Deutsche Marks) that an insurance company or court would award for the loss of each part, German, mid- to late 20th Century

Origin

Germany

Maker

Class

demonstration

Earliest Date

1948

Latest Date

2001

Inscription Date

Material

wood; metal; plastic; paper; cloth (velvet)

Dimensions

length; 500mm, width; 400mm

Special Collection

Provenance

Christie's, South Kensington, sale of 'The William Bonardo Collection of Wax Anatomical Models', 13 Dec. 2001, lot 104.

Inscription

On piece of card, loose in frame;
Nr. 120. Wieviel ift seine hand wert?

Fine hand, an der die Berte bezeichnet find, melche von Unfallverficherungen und Gerichten fur den Berluit der einzelnen Blieder dem Berlufttrager zuerkannt
merden. Der Berluft der ganzen hand ift mit 7000 Mark bemertet, der des ganzen
Daumens 4900 Mark; dagegen konnen mir fur den kleinen finger, der am menigften mert ift, nur 300 Mark beanfpruchen.

Description Notes

Plastic hand model in frame, larger than life size with amounts of money (in Marks) on paper labels extruding from metal lines.

The model illustrates the amounts of compensation (damages) that insurance companies and courts of law award for the loss of digits or limbs. The loss of the entire hand is valued at 7000 Marks, that of the thumb at 4900; for the little finger, however, which is worth least, we can only claim 300 Marks.

References

Events