The Victorian Hand
@victorianhand.bsky.social
@ukri.org AHRC Standard Research Grant project (2024-28) exploring historical & contemporary understandings of the human hand. Hosted by @lcflondon.bsky.social & @lancasteruni.bsky.social & co-led by @jbhist.bsky.social & medhistoryman.bsky.social
In 1895 Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered mysterious ‘X-rays’. His image of his wife’s hand - bones and wedding ring visible - captivated Europe.
X-rays transformed medicine, revealing the body’s interior without surgery. Early radiologists paid a price, as missing hands became a mark of the work.
X-rays transformed medicine, revealing the body’s interior without surgery. Early radiologists paid a price, as missing hands became a mark of the work.
![A faint image of the bones inside a hand with a wedding ring. The picture is framed with green card with the title 'Hand mit Ringen [Hand with Ring]' and stamped by Wurzburg University.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:esngkbyspvv7ct3wyrog3ipx/bafkreifllb323g3xpedi7w4yzycio36ogbwwv6ohajjce4dn2l3svdxfii@jpeg)
November 21, 2025 at 2:48 PM
In 1895 Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen discovered mysterious ‘X-rays’. His image of his wife’s hand - bones and wedding ring visible - captivated Europe.
X-rays transformed medicine, revealing the body’s interior without surgery. Early radiologists paid a price, as missing hands became a mark of the work.
X-rays transformed medicine, revealing the body’s interior without surgery. Early radiologists paid a price, as missing hands became a mark of the work.
🧵 We are delighted to be partnering with The Quilters’ Guild!
The Guild aims to give quilt-making the status it deserves as a craft and an art and its Quilt Collection preserves our patchwork and quilting heritage.
Stay tuned for more information about our collaboration and how to get involved!
The Guild aims to give quilt-making the status it deserves as a craft and an art and its Quilt Collection preserves our patchwork and quilting heritage.
Stay tuned for more information about our collaboration and how to get involved!
November 14, 2025 at 1:11 PM
🧵 We are delighted to be partnering with The Quilters’ Guild!
The Guild aims to give quilt-making the status it deserves as a craft and an art and its Quilt Collection preserves our patchwork and quilting heritage.
Stay tuned for more information about our collaboration and how to get involved!
The Guild aims to give quilt-making the status it deserves as a craft and an art and its Quilt Collection preserves our patchwork and quilting heritage.
Stay tuned for more information about our collaboration and how to get involved!
We were thrilled to welcome Professor Alison Bashford to @globalaffairslu.bsky.social yesterday to discuss her new @uchicagopress.bsky.social book, Decoding the Hand.
Thank you to everyone who came along to hear insights into the entangled histories of science, medicine and magic!
Thank you to everyone who came along to hear insights into the entangled histories of science, medicine and magic!
November 13, 2025 at 10:11 AM
We were thrilled to welcome Professor Alison Bashford to @globalaffairslu.bsky.social yesterday to discuss her new @uchicagopress.bsky.social book, Decoding the Hand.
Thank you to everyone who came along to hear insights into the entangled histories of science, medicine and magic!
Thank you to everyone who came along to hear insights into the entangled histories of science, medicine and magic!
✊ From the late 19th century, socialist movements adopted the raised fist as a symbol of unity and strength.
One of the first depictions was by Hungarian artist Mihály Biró in 1912. His image of a fist emerging from factories toward parliament in Budapest visualised the power of collective action.
One of the first depictions was by Hungarian artist Mihály Biró in 1912. His image of a fist emerging from factories toward parliament in Budapest visualised the power of collective action.
November 7, 2025 at 11:47 AM
✊ From the late 19th century, socialist movements adopted the raised fist as a symbol of unity and strength.
One of the first depictions was by Hungarian artist Mihály Biró in 1912. His image of a fist emerging from factories toward parliament in Budapest visualised the power of collective action.
One of the first depictions was by Hungarian artist Mihály Biró in 1912. His image of a fist emerging from factories toward parliament in Budapest visualised the power of collective action.
General registration is now open for our upcoming conference The Hand: Emotions, Embodiment and Identity at London College of Fashion, 8-9 January!
Visit our website to register: www.thevictorianhand.uk/conference
Visit our website to register: www.thevictorianhand.uk/conference
November 5, 2025 at 2:57 PM
General registration is now open for our upcoming conference The Hand: Emotions, Embodiment and Identity at London College of Fashion, 8-9 January!
Visit our website to register: www.thevictorianhand.uk/conference
Visit our website to register: www.thevictorianhand.uk/conference
This month’s suitably spooky blog post is from our Research Associate, who has been speaking with the dead in the archives of the Society for Psychical Research!
Read here: www.thevictorianhand.uk/gallery/spir...
Read here: www.thevictorianhand.uk/gallery/spir...
October 31, 2025 at 5:02 PM
This month’s suitably spooky blog post is from our Research Associate, who has been speaking with the dead in the archives of the Society for Psychical Research!
Read here: www.thevictorianhand.uk/gallery/spir...
Read here: www.thevictorianhand.uk/gallery/spir...
We are delighted to announce that the plenary speakers for our upcoming conference are Dr Sarah Jackson, Professor Peter J. Capuano and Caroline Seymour!
Visit our website for more information: www.thevictorianhand.uk/conference
Visit our website for more information: www.thevictorianhand.uk/conference
October 27, 2025 at 4:09 PM
We are delighted to announce that the plenary speakers for our upcoming conference are Dr Sarah Jackson, Professor Peter J. Capuano and Caroline Seymour!
Visit our website for more information: www.thevictorianhand.uk/conference
Visit our website for more information: www.thevictorianhand.uk/conference
In colonial India, William Herschel introduced fingerprinting in the 1850s to authenticate identity on legal documents.
Influenced by colonial ideologies, his experiments laid the foundations for modern forensic identification, codifying the hand as a scientific marker of identity.
#handoftheweek
Influenced by colonial ideologies, his experiments laid the foundations for modern forensic identification, codifying the hand as a scientific marker of identity.
#handoftheweek
October 24, 2025 at 10:52 AM
In colonial India, William Herschel introduced fingerprinting in the 1850s to authenticate identity on legal documents.
Influenced by colonial ideologies, his experiments laid the foundations for modern forensic identification, codifying the hand as a scientific marker of identity.
#handoftheweek
Influenced by colonial ideologies, his experiments laid the foundations for modern forensic identification, codifying the hand as a scientific marker of identity.
#handoftheweek
We’re launching our #handoftheweek series!
This week is Dr Hippolyte Baraduc, who tried to photograph the human soul via 'the most perfect organ after the brain', the hand.
Baraduc’s photos blend science and occult, showing how hands were seen as windows onto the inner self in the 19th century.
This week is Dr Hippolyte Baraduc, who tried to photograph the human soul via 'the most perfect organ after the brain', the hand.
Baraduc’s photos blend science and occult, showing how hands were seen as windows onto the inner self in the 19th century.
October 17, 2025 at 2:27 PM
We’re launching our #handoftheweek series!
This week is Dr Hippolyte Baraduc, who tried to photograph the human soul via 'the most perfect organ after the brain', the hand.
Baraduc’s photos blend science and occult, showing how hands were seen as windows onto the inner self in the 19th century.
This week is Dr Hippolyte Baraduc, who tried to photograph the human soul via 'the most perfect organ after the brain', the hand.
Baraduc’s photos blend science and occult, showing how hands were seen as windows onto the inner self in the 19th century.
How might hands reveal an inner self – a soul, a character, an identity?
Join us on 12 November at Lancaster University to explore this question with Professor Alison Bashford (University of New South Wales) as she presents her book, Decoding the Hand.
Tickets: thevictorianhand.uk/alison-bashf...
Join us on 12 November at Lancaster University to explore this question with Professor Alison Bashford (University of New South Wales) as she presents her book, Decoding the Hand.
Tickets: thevictorianhand.uk/alison-bashf...
October 7, 2025 at 10:06 AM
How might hands reveal an inner self – a soul, a character, an identity?
Join us on 12 November at Lancaster University to explore this question with Professor Alison Bashford (University of New South Wales) as she presents her book, Decoding the Hand.
Tickets: thevictorianhand.uk/alison-bashf...
Join us on 12 November at Lancaster University to explore this question with Professor Alison Bashford (University of New South Wales) as she presents her book, Decoding the Hand.
Tickets: thevictorianhand.uk/alison-bashf...
We are pleased to annouce that Dr Ross Cameron @rosscmrn.bsky.social has joined The Victorian Hand team as a Public Engagement Fellow at @lcflondon.bsky.social!
Watch this space for upcoming annoucements about public engagement activities and ways to get involved with The Victorian Hand.
Watch this space for upcoming annoucements about public engagement activities and ways to get involved with The Victorian Hand.
September 30, 2025 at 2:09 PM
We are pleased to annouce that Dr Ross Cameron @rosscmrn.bsky.social has joined The Victorian Hand team as a Public Engagement Fellow at @lcflondon.bsky.social!
Watch this space for upcoming annoucements about public engagement activities and ways to get involved with The Victorian Hand.
Watch this space for upcoming annoucements about public engagement activities and ways to get involved with The Victorian Hand.
Time feels tangible in these casts...
Over on the Victorian Hand project blog, our Research Associate @helenvmurray.bsky.social reflects on her trip to Watts Gallery to research their extensive collection of plaster cast hands..
www.thevictorianhand.uk/blog-touchin...
Over on the Victorian Hand project blog, our Research Associate @helenvmurray.bsky.social reflects on her trip to Watts Gallery to research their extensive collection of plaster cast hands..
www.thevictorianhand.uk/blog-touchin...
September 23, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Time feels tangible in these casts...
Over on the Victorian Hand project blog, our Research Associate @helenvmurray.bsky.social reflects on her trip to Watts Gallery to research their extensive collection of plaster cast hands..
www.thevictorianhand.uk/blog-touchin...
Over on the Victorian Hand project blog, our Research Associate @helenvmurray.bsky.social reflects on her trip to Watts Gallery to research their extensive collection of plaster cast hands..
www.thevictorianhand.uk/blog-touchin...
🙋Don't forget! The call for abstracts for our conference on The Hand closes at midnight tonight!
All abstracts should be sent to victorianhand@fashionarts.ac.uk
We can't wait to go through all the incredible submissions we've received, so we can hand-craft a fantastic programme.
Watch this space!
All abstracts should be sent to victorianhand@fashionarts.ac.uk
We can't wait to go through all the incredible submissions we've received, so we can hand-craft a fantastic programme.
Watch this space!
September 22, 2025 at 12:57 PM
🙋Don't forget! The call for abstracts for our conference on The Hand closes at midnight tonight!
All abstracts should be sent to victorianhand@fashionarts.ac.uk
We can't wait to go through all the incredible submissions we've received, so we can hand-craft a fantastic programme.
Watch this space!
All abstracts should be sent to victorianhand@fashionarts.ac.uk
We can't wait to go through all the incredible submissions we've received, so we can hand-craft a fantastic programme.
Watch this space!
Touch transcends time...
Last week, @helenvmurray.bsky.social was getting some haptic shivers whilst exploring spiritual hands in the archives of the Society for Psychical Research.
Meanwhile, we're levitating with excitement to receive your abstracts for The Hand: Emotions, Embodiment, Identity.
Last week, @helenvmurray.bsky.social was getting some haptic shivers whilst exploring spiritual hands in the archives of the Society for Psychical Research.
Meanwhile, we're levitating with excitement to receive your abstracts for The Hand: Emotions, Embodiment, Identity.
September 17, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Touch transcends time...
Last week, @helenvmurray.bsky.social was getting some haptic shivers whilst exploring spiritual hands in the archives of the Society for Psychical Research.
Meanwhile, we're levitating with excitement to receive your abstracts for The Hand: Emotions, Embodiment, Identity.
Last week, @helenvmurray.bsky.social was getting some haptic shivers whilst exploring spiritual hands in the archives of the Society for Psychical Research.
Meanwhile, we're levitating with excitement to receive your abstracts for The Hand: Emotions, Embodiment, Identity.
3 weeks to go until the deadline for abstracts for our conference The Hand: Emotions, Embodiment, Identity (8-9 Jan 2026).
Are you getting yours ready?✍
Send abstracts and bios to victorianhand@fashionarts.ac.uk by 22 September 2025. We can't wait to hear from you!
Are you getting yours ready?✍
Send abstracts and bios to victorianhand@fashionarts.ac.uk by 22 September 2025. We can't wait to hear from you!
September 1, 2025 at 10:46 PM
3 weeks to go until the deadline for abstracts for our conference The Hand: Emotions, Embodiment, Identity (8-9 Jan 2026).
Are you getting yours ready?✍
Send abstracts and bios to victorianhand@fashionarts.ac.uk by 22 September 2025. We can't wait to hear from you!
Are you getting yours ready?✍
Send abstracts and bios to victorianhand@fashionarts.ac.uk by 22 September 2025. We can't wait to hear from you!
🙌Call for Papers🙌
We are excited to invite abstracts for an interdisciplinary conference on The Hand: Emotions, Embodiment, Identity, at @unioftheartslondon.bsky.social on 8-9 Jan 2026
Send abstracts of 300 words to victorianhand@fashion.arts.ac.uk by 22 Sep - please circulate among your networks!
We are excited to invite abstracts for an interdisciplinary conference on The Hand: Emotions, Embodiment, Identity, at @unioftheartslondon.bsky.social on 8-9 Jan 2026
Send abstracts of 300 words to victorianhand@fashion.arts.ac.uk by 22 Sep - please circulate among your networks!
August 15, 2025 at 2:41 PM
🙌Call for Papers🙌
We are excited to invite abstracts for an interdisciplinary conference on The Hand: Emotions, Embodiment, Identity, at @unioftheartslondon.bsky.social on 8-9 Jan 2026
Send abstracts of 300 words to victorianhand@fashion.arts.ac.uk by 22 Sep - please circulate among your networks!
We are excited to invite abstracts for an interdisciplinary conference on The Hand: Emotions, Embodiment, Identity, at @unioftheartslondon.bsky.social on 8-9 Jan 2026
Send abstracts of 300 words to victorianhand@fashion.arts.ac.uk by 22 Sep - please circulate among your networks!
We're delighted to announce that @helenvmurray.bsky.social will be joining the project as Research Associate in Victorian Cultural and Material History from March. Helen has expertise in the cultural and visual representation of the body in Victorian Britian and we can't wait to work with her.
February 8, 2025 at 1:54 PM
We're delighted to announce that @helenvmurray.bsky.social will be joining the project as Research Associate in Victorian Cultural and Material History from March. Helen has expertise in the cultural and visual representation of the body in Victorian Britian and we can't wait to work with her.
Welcome to the Victorian Hand project, funded by @ukri.org (2024-2028) & co-led by @jbhist.bsky.social & @medhistoryman.bsky.social with more team members to announce very soon! Stay tuned for updates about our research and engagement activities, as well as multimedia fun! Please follow and share!
February 7, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Welcome to the Victorian Hand project, funded by @ukri.org (2024-2028) & co-led by @jbhist.bsky.social & @medhistoryman.bsky.social with more team members to announce very soon! Stay tuned for updates about our research and engagement activities, as well as multimedia fun! Please follow and share!