"Prosthetic Finger Ornament"

Alexander McQueen|Alexander McQueen|Shaun Leane

fall/winter 1997–98 · silver, leather · Costume Institute

Jewelry designer Shaun Leane created this silver prosthetic finger ornament in collaboration with Alexander McQueen for McQueen’s fall/winter 1997–98 “It’s a Jungle Out There” collection. The cast finger, inspired by the 1993 film The Piano by Jane Campion, is made with false rivets at the joints and black leather wrist ties. McQueen presented the object along with garments made of animal skin, horn, and taxidermy in the 1997 collection to represent the savagery of the natural world. The Piano is the story of a mute Scottish woman sold into marriage in mid-19th century New Zealand. Her husband amputates her finger as punishment for a suspected affair. The prosthetic restores her ability to play the piano – her primary means of expression in the isolated wilderness of New Zealand’s frontier.

Artist

Alexander McQueen|Alexander McQueen|Shaun Leane

Date

fall/winter 1997–98

Medium

silver, leather

Culture

British

Department

Costume Institute

Credit line

Purchase, Friends of The Costume Institute Gifts, 2018