The original owner (as was told by a relative) wore this prosthetic from 1905-1925. The piece is in excellent condition with original paint and leather and metal work arm attachment retain their shape. The hand is made of metal (aluminum) and the thumb and fingers flex open to grab the item. The action is easier when one pry’s the fingers as the original pull string (still attached) may be too old to tug with force. You can see the metal peek through the hand in several areas due to natural wear. The finger tips have rubber pads that are screwed in each finger to allow better grip and articulation. I have sold prosthetic hands from the 1920’s , but this is one of the earliest and excellent examples that I have come across to date.