The Spanish Tickler

This terrible device was used in most of Europe throughout the Middle Ages. It was a very simple instrument that was used to tear a victim’s skin apart. 

The victim would be naked and tied leaving him or her completely helpless. Then the torturers began the, sometimes public, act of mutilation. They often began with the limbs and slowly moved on to the chest, back, neck and finally the face.

In short, the Spanish Tickler or Cat’s Paw, is nothing but an extension to the torturer’s hand, it had spikes which were sharp enough to tear through anything in their path.

This instrument was very common in Spain, mostly during the Spanish Inquisition, although its use in France and England is well recorded, they often adopted different torture methods.

The Spanish Tickler varied in shape and size. Some were long and had a pole attached to the rear so the torturer could tear the skin from a distance while others were nothing but the claw itself. Depending on the instrument, the torture varied. This torture often resulted in death but some of the victims were spared or convicted to a shorter torture session.~Wicked&Depraved