Pair of doll's gloves
- Place of origin:
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
- Materials and Techniques:
Kid leather with silk thread
- Credit Line:
Purchased by public subscription
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
British Galleries, room 54b, case 3, shelf D3
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Object Type
These gloves were made for a doll, known as Lord Clapham, that is thought to have belonged to the Cockerell family, descendants of the diarist Samuel Pepys (1633-1703). Gloves remained an essential part of a gentleman's wardrobe until after the Second World War. They were not only necessary for the protection of the hands. They were also required by etiquette for the completion of an ensemble. As with appearing hatless, to be seen without gloves was considered a sign of illness or distress.
Designs & Designing
Lord Clapham offers a fine example of both formal and informal dress for a gentleman in the 1690s. His formal outfit includes a coat, waistcoat and breeches, while his informal dress is represented by the nightgown. Accessories such as the stockings, stock (a form of stiff, close-fitting neckcloth) and gloves are very valuable since very few items from this early period survive in museum collections. Equally important is the demonstration of how these clothes were worn together.
Materials & Making
The gloves are made of white kid leather and hand-stitched with brown silk thread. Unlike gloves of the early 17th century, these are not decorated in any way. Neither is there any exaggeration of the proportions of the hand.
Ownership & Use
Dolls were widely produced in the 17th century, although very few survive, due to the wear and tear they usually undergo. The high quality of Lord Clapham and his clothes indicates that he would have been expensive. There is little evidence of use, which suggests that he was admired by adults rather than played with by children.
Physical description
Pair of doll's gloves of white kid leather with a gauntlet cuff, and seamed in brown silk thread.
Place of Origin
London, England (made)
Date
1690-1700 (made)
Artist/maker
Unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Kid leather with silk thread
Dimensions
[Glove] Length: 9.2 cm
[Glove] Length: 8.9 cm
Object history note
The doll is thought to have belonged to the Cockerell family, descendants of Samuel Pepys. The daughter of Pepys' nephew John Jackson(son of his sister, Pauline) married a Cockerell. The doll and its partner were named 'Lord' and 'Lady' of the family home in Clapham.
Historical significance: The doll and its partner are costume documents; their clothes being, in style, cut and material, perfect miniatures of the fashions of the late 17th century. Their importance is underlined by the almost total lack of other good visual source material for this period, whether pictorial or in the form of surviving garments. In particular the survival of accessories and the informal garments is extremely rare.
Historical context note
Dolls were widely produced in the 17th century, although very few survive. It is most unlikely that these particular examples were the playthings of children. Their production is of a high quality; almost all the accessories survive and there is little wear and tear on the dolls and their garments. The dolls were most probably purchased for the amusement of adults, and as a decorative accessory to a home.
Descriptive line
Pair of doll's kid leather gloves, London, 1690-1700
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Hillier, Mary, Pollock's Dictionary of English Dolls, London: Robert Hale Ltd., 1982, 51, 202pp. ill
Labels and date
British Galleries:
These dolls were probably made for the amusement of adults at home, as were dolls' houses at this time. They were named 'Lord and Lady' of the family home in Clapham, London by their owners, the Cockerell family. The outfits of the dolls are perfect miniatures of London fashions of 1690 and 1700. She wears a mantua (gown) of Chinese silk over stays (a stiff corset), with an under-wired cap and high-heeled shoes. [27/03/2003]
Materials
Leather; Silver thread
Techniques
Hand sewing
Categories
British Galleries; Textiles; Clothing; Dolls & Toys; Accessories; Leather
Collection code
T&F
