Glove
1600-1610 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Gloves could serve several purposes in early 17th century Britain, apart from the obvious ones of protection and warmth. Many were solely decorative, to display the wealth and status of their owner. They were worn in the hat or belt, as well as carried in the hand. In combat, a glove was thrown down as a gage, or challenge.
Ornately embroidered gloves served official purposes, signifying the holding of a civic office or membership in the local freemanry. Gloves were popular as gifts, particularly as a New Year’s gift to the monarch and they were frequently given as a sign of royal favour. Recent studies of the marriage ceremony in late Tudor and early Jacobean England show that accessories, particularly gloves were frequently exchanged between men and women. This may explain why so many survive in museum collections.
Ornately embroidered gloves served official purposes, signifying the holding of a civic office or membership in the local freemanry. Gloves were popular as gifts, particularly as a New Year’s gift to the monarch and they were frequently given as a sign of royal favour. Recent studies of the marriage ceremony in late Tudor and early Jacobean England show that accessories, particularly gloves were frequently exchanged between men and women. This may explain why so many survive in museum collections.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Kidskin, silk, silver-gilt thread, silk thread; hand sewn, hand embroidered, bobbin lace |
| Brief description | Glove, embroidered leather, 1600-1610, British; silver, red silk gaunlet, silver-gilt bobbin lace, right |
| Physical description | A right glove of kidskin with applied red satin cuff, couched in silver-gilt thread and purl in an abstract floral pattern. The cuff is lined with red silk and edged with silver-gilt bobbin lace and spangles. The cuff is open at the side and held by 2 pink silk ribbons edged with silver-gilt lace. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Summary | Gloves could serve several purposes in early 17th century Britain, apart from the obvious ones of protection and warmth. Many were solely decorative, to display the wealth and status of their owner. They were worn in the hat or belt, as well as carried in the hand. In combat, a glove was thrown down as a gage, or challenge. Ornately embroidered gloves served official purposes, signifying the holding of a civic office or membership in the local freemanry. Gloves were popular as gifts, particularly as a New Year’s gift to the monarch and they were frequently given as a sign of royal favour. Recent studies of the marriage ceremony in late Tudor and early Jacobean England show that accessories, particularly gloves were frequently exchanged between men and women. This may explain why so many survive in museum collections. |
| Bibliographic reference | John Lea Nevinson, Catalogue of English Domestic Embroidery of the Sixteenth & Seventeenth Centuries, Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Textiles, London: HMSO, 1938, p.95 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 298-1878 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | July 15, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
