Glove

Date1610-1620

MediumLeather, silk, silk thread, metallic thread, metal purl, metal beads.

DimensionsLength: 11 1/2" Width: 3 3/4" (palm), 5 3/4" (gauntlet)

Credit LineAnonymous gift.

Object number1971-1640,1

DescriptionA pair of gloves made of leather and silk embroidered with silk and metallic threads; originally found in a wooden frame. The thumb is a separate piece stitched onto the hand portion of the glove. The gloves are embroidered with a floral motif, depicting a variety of flowers worked in pink, green, yellow, red, and blue silk embroidery thread. Silk ruffles trimmed with metallic thread separates the leather from the embroidered cuffs, or gauntlets. Metal purl and beads are also used to decorate the gloves. The cuffs are lined in pink-red silk, secured to the embroidered fabric of the cuff with an overcast stitch. The seams in the fingers of the glove show some repairs. Couching and split stitches and techniques were used.
MarkingsPrinted label on back of frame reqads: "FROST & REED,/LTD."(on either side of the firm's crest) "Bristol,/CLARE STREET" (opposite side) "LONDON,/26C KING STREET/ST. JAMES" S.W. 1"/(then below)" ARTISTIC FRAME MAKERS ESTABLISHED 1808/FINE ART PUBLISHERS 10/12/31
ProvenanceMabel Osborne purchased the gauntlets for Mrs. Tomlinson at "Gloria Antica", an antiques shop at 107 Brompton Road, London S.W. 3, in the summer of 1957. The gloves were in a wooden frame with the glass sandwiched between it and a gold painted molding/mat; there was a black cloth behind the gloves and a gold-colored placque between them which reads: ENGLISH/GAUNTLET GLOVES/XVII TH CENTURY; the frame is backed with plywood and the seams covered with brown paper; a label, as mentioned above, is affixed to the lower center of the back.