Glass Hands

The Symbolism of the Human Hand

As an artist, I use my hands to craft glass. As a sign language interpreter, I use my hands to form language. As a mother, I use my hands to tend to life. By describing myself in relation to my hands, they take on a deeper and more symbolic meaning. The human hand has had symbolic meaning throughout recorded history for millenia before. It has been used universally by world cultures to represent emotion, power and life. The hand can signify voice and song and represent the wisdom of the sages.

The right hand is the life-force or hand of power.

An outstretched hand is a symbol of connectedness. In Thailand a statue depicts Buddha holding out an outstretched hand to calm believers.


The outstretched hand takes on the meaning of love, health and humanity.

The outstretched hand has had particular meaning to me. My first drawings were of my small outstretched hand - traced carefully at first by my mother and then over and over again by myself. It was natural for me to create hands in glass - because of the ancient meaning of the outstretched hand and because of my own special connection with it.

Each hand is approximately 28mm by 36 mm (7/8 inches by 1 and 3/8 inches) from fingertip to outstretch thumb. The hole runs across the bottom of the fingers/top of the palm. You can see the hole in some of the pictures. All holes are placed in the same place. The hand is designed to hang with the palm down and the fingers up.