Included
in the present exhibition are: a chain flail made of razor-sharp, flat oval
links; another with “laurels”, i.e. pointed, sharp-edged, leaf-shaped metal
blades set into the chain; another with a double chain terminating in four
massive iron “stars”; and a fragment of a 14th-century "crown of
thorns" flail. As has been observed in other contexts in this Commentary,
modern torture for the most part requires methods that leave no marks on the
victim, for reasons of propaganda. Nevertheless, heavy, bloody, crushing,
mediaeval systems do still find ample employment, especially when the object is
execution rather than enquiry.
Information and photographs in this virtual exhibition proceed from the book Torture instruments; a bilingual guide to the exhibition Torture Instruments form the Middle Ages to the Industrial Era presented in various cities in the world in 1983-2000.