Surgeon's amputation saw - Iron - "bow-frame" amputation saw

Recovered amputation saw from the Waal, 18th / early 19th century
A remarkable wrought-iron amputation saw, recovered from the river Waal, dating from the 18th or early 19th century. This type of surgical saw was used for amputations in military and civilian medicine and is characteristic of the medical instrumentarium of the 18th century.
The saw consists of a hand-forged bow-shaped frame with a decoratively curled support and original mounting points for the blade. The blade itself is missing. Due to prolonged immersion in the river environment, the object has acquired a strongly weathered and corroded surface, appropriate to its age and the conditions of its discovery.
Amputation saws from this period were used before the introduction of modern anesthesia and antiseptic techniques, where the speed and experience of the surgeon were of great importance.
The object has been carefully cleaned and conserved after retrieval with PEG (polyethylene glycol) to stabilize the metal.
Recovered from the Waal. An authentic historical object with a fine river patina and clear signs of age and use.