1615 / 1625, United Kingdom

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. Gloves were popular as gifts and were exchanged as a gesture of engagement or wedding present. In combat, a glove was thrown down as a gage, or challenge. Decorative gloves were popular with England’s working class. In 1618 Horatio Busini, chaplain to the Venetian ambassador to England, wrote disapprovingly in a report on English customs: “all wear very costly gloves. This fashion of gloves is so universal that even the porters wear them very ostentatiously.” The decoration of this pair is characteristic of the period 1615 to 1625 with couched embroidery in a stylised pattern and fringed cuff. Pair of gloves, embroidered kidskin, 1615-1625, British; silver-gilt, pierced, yellow & coral fringe A pair of kidskin gloves decorated at cuff with couched silver-gilt thread and purl, and pierced in a stylized floral pattern. The cuff is lined and edged with coral-pink silk. The lining in the left glove (A) is missing. The short yellow and coral silk fringes on each glove, each slightly different in pattern, bear the museum numbers 813-1875 and T281:N-1923