Glove
1610-1630 (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 | Embroidered kidskin applied with satin, trimmed with silver-gilt thread bobbin lace, spangles, and lined with silk |
| Brief description | Lady's glove for the left hand of embroidered kidskin, Great Britain, 1610-1630 |
| Physical description | Lady's glove for the left hand of embroidered kidskin dyed brown with applied dentillated flared red satin tabbed cuff, and applied with a trimming of silver-gilt bobbin lace and spangles. The cuff is lined with blue silk with gussets which show between the dentillations. The fingers are elongated and have long gussets which extend to the knuckles with fourchettes between the fingers. The seams are over stitched. The cuff, which is interlined with three thicknesses of paper, has been slipped over the plain glove edge. The trimming which masked the join may have been lost. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Given by Daphne Pearson |
| Object history | Registered File number 1986/995. Associated with glove T.270-1986. Letter from donor (on nominal file of 24th October 1986) suggesting descent through Floyd family which had a connection with Oliver Cromwell, or Findlay-Buchanan or the Farquhar family, who had connections with Charles II. Another glove has been sent to the Gallery of English Costume at Platt Hall, Manchester. |
| Historical context | There are several examples of dentillated gloves without side cuff ribbons but all are embroidered and have lace trim, eg. Christies (20th May 1980) lot 141; Spence Collection (Neg 49854); V&A 1506-1888. |
| 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 references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | T.271-1986 |
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 17, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
