ClipArt ETC

The Hands Holding Objects ClipArt gallery offers 96 illustrations of one or two hands holding objects such as a pen, a piece of string, a match, or a can.

An illustration of three hands handing a man cards.

Multiple Hands Handing Man Cards

An illustration of three hands handing a man cards.

A pair of hands rolling clay into a cylindrical shape.

hands molding clay

A pair of hands rolling clay into a cylindrical shape.

Two hands with string.

Hands tying knots

Two hands with string.

Two hands with string.

Hands tying knots

Two hands with string.

Hands preparing to spin a coin

Hands with coin

Hands preparing to spin a coin

A steel rod being held horizontally by a pair of hands.

Hands with rod

A steel rod being held horizontally by a pair of hands.

A pair of hands holding a glass tube filled with a dark liquid.

Hands with tube

A pair of hands holding a glass tube filled with a dark liquid.

A pair of hands holding a tube and tuning fork over a resonator.

Hands with tuning fork and tube

A pair of hands holding a tube and tuning fork over a resonator.

A pair of hands, each holding a narrow bit of wire over a compass needle.

Hands with wires

A pair of hands, each holding a narrow bit of wire over a compass needle.

An incorrect way to hold a pen. The result is stiff, heavy, cramped penmanship, and rough marks.

Incorrect Penmanship

An incorrect way to hold a pen. The result is stiff, heavy, cramped penmanship, and rough marks.

An incorrect way to hold a pen. The large finger should be straightened, and the end caused to drop lightly beneath the holder.

Incorrect Penmanship

An incorrect way to hold a pen. The large finger should be straightened, and the end caused to drop…

An incorrect way to hold a pen. The result of dropping the hand too heavily upon the wrist and allowing it to roll to one side.

Incorrect Penmanship

An incorrect way to hold a pen. The result of dropping the hand too heavily upon the wrist and allowing…

An incorrect way to hold a pen. Another position when the pen is held too tightly.

Incorrect Penmanship

An incorrect way to hold a pen. Another position when the pen is held too tightly.

"... balance a card with a penny placed upon it on the tip of one of the fingers of the left hand, and strike it suddenly with the middle finger of the right hand, as represented [here]." —Quackenbos 1859

Inertia Demonstration

"... balance a card with a penny placed upon it on the tip of one of the fingers of the left hand, and…

An illustration of a man standing in the palm of a hand.

Man in Palm of Hand

An illustration of a man standing in the palm of a hand.

At first scissors seem to have been small, awkward things, with straight blades and handles. Now they are made in many different styles, shapes and sizes, and are adapted to a great variety or uses. Some have bent blades, others curved or bent handles, some are long, some very thick and short, some have rings for the fingers or thumb.

Manicure Scissors

At first scissors seem to have been small, awkward things, with straight blades and handles. Now they…

This bow pencil is used to make small curves.

Bow Pencil

This bow pencil is used to make small curves.

The bow pencil is used to draw small circles and arcs.

The Bow Pencil

The bow pencil is used to draw small circles and arcs.

The proper way to hold a pen.

Penmanship

The proper way to hold a pen.

The proper way to hold a pen.

Penmanship

The proper way to hold a pen.

The hand elevated upon the two lower fingers, with the pen placed in correct position for writing.

Penmanship

The hand elevated upon the two lower fingers, with the pen placed in correct position for writing.

Another view of the correct position to hold a pen.

Penmanship

Another view of the correct position to hold a pen.

The correct position when the pen is at the bottom of an extended letter below the line, the pen being, as shown, nearly perpendicular.

Penmanship

The correct position when the pen is at the bottom of an extended letter below the line, the pen being,…

The front view of the hand showing the position of the forefinger, which should rest squarely on the top of the holder.

Penmanship

The front view of the hand showing the position of the forefinger, which should rest squarely on the…

"It (pen) should be held easily, in the position as illustrated, the strokes drawn with a steady, even motion and a slight uniform pressure on the paper, not enough to spread the nibs of the pen." —French, 1911

Side View of Position for Lettering Using Pen

"It (pen) should be held easily, in the position as illustrated, the strokes drawn with a steady, even…

"For the first practice draw in pencil top and bottom guide lines for 3/16" letters and with a 516 F or similar pen make directly in ink a series of vertical lines, drawing the pen down with a finger movement. This one stroke must be practised until the beginner can get lines vertical and of equal weight." —French, 1911

Top View of Position for Lettering Using Pen

"For the first practice draw in pencil top and bottom guide lines for 3/16" letters and with a 516 F…

"A proof-plane may be made by cementing a bronze cent or a disk of gilt paper to a thin insulating handle, as a glass tube or a vulcanite rod. Slide the disk of the proof-plane along the surface of the electrified body to be tested, and quickly bring it into contact with the knob of the gold-leaf electroscope, the leaves of which will diverge." — Avery, 1895

Hand with Proof-plane

"A proof-plane may be made by cementing a bronze cent or a disk of gilt paper to a thin insulating handle,…

The hand contains a puppet for each of the five little pigs from the famous nursery rhyme.

5 Little Pigs Finger Puppets

The hand contains a puppet for each of the five little pigs from the famous nursery rhyme.

Hands cutting something with a razor.

Razor

Hands cutting something with a razor.

A razor strop is a flexible strip of leather or canvas used to sharpen and polish the blade of a straight razor, a knife, or a woodworking tool like a chisel. Unlike honing a blade, in which a whetstone removes metal bent out of alignment from the blade's edge, stropping the blade realigns the indentations without removing any material.

Razor Strop Holder and Backing

A razor strop is a flexible strip of leather or canvas used to sharpen and polish the blade of a straight…

"For drawing ink lines other than arcs of circles, the ruling pen is used. It should be held as nearly perpendicular to the board as possible, bearing lightly against the T square or triangle, along the edge of which the line is drawn. After a little practice, this position will become natural, and no difficulty will be experienced." — Hallock, 1905

Ruling Pen

"For drawing ink lines other than arcs of circles, the ruling pen is used. It should be held as nearly…

"For drawing ink lines other than arcs of circles, the ruling pen is used. It should be held as nearly perpendicular to the board as possible, bearing lightly against the T square or triangle, along the edge of which the line is drawn. After a little practice, this position will become natural, and no difficulty will be experienced." — Hallock, 1905

Ruling Pen

"For drawing ink lines other than arcs of circles, the ruling pen is used. It should be held as nearly…

A sling shot

Sling Shot

A sling shot

Instrument for sending telegrams

Telegrams

Instrument for sending telegrams

Vertical line is drawn downward with the pencil held with freedom, not close to the point.

Sketching Vertical Line

Vertical line is drawn downward with the pencil held with freedom, not close to the point.

Illustration of patent number 539,581. In a pen holder, a cam for clamping the pen in place, pivoted to a support located wholly within the holder tube, substantially as shown and described. Patent filed August 28, 1894 by William A. Gay of Newark, NJ.

William A Gay Penholder Patent

Illustration of patent number 539,581. In a pen holder, a cam for clamping the pen in place, pivoted…