23448 - 23463 & others

Aquisition numbers 2005 - 363 & 364

Accession No. 23448 + A

A ladies’ pair of yellow taffeta silk mittens, cut on the bias to give stretch,
Circa 1750 – 70, elbow length with flap over knuckles, with flounced and pinked upper openings, the thumb and shaped hand cover delicately embroidered with leaf bands and cross hatching in silver thread, s-shaped opening to the under-arm and palm with silver thread lattice threads, 32 cm long.
Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spencer.
Conserved 1995 – 1999 with help from NHLF

Accession No. 23449 + A

A men’s pair of knitted liturgical gloves, probably Italian, circa 1720 – 50, of cream silk, with knitted design of golden foliate bands to the gauntlets, and crucifixes over the knuckles, the finger and thumb seams outlined in couched narrow gold braid which form rosettes at the finger joints, the gauntlets lined in cream silk, gold braid and gold overstitched gauntlet edges. The gloves are similar in colour and shape to accession number 23406.
Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence.
Conserved in 1995 – 1999 with help from NHLF

Accession No. 23450

A ladies’ white linen tapelace glove and a matching single glove panel, probably Flemish, late 18th or early 19th century, the guipure tape made to shape, each with a design of large single bloom and coiling leaves on stem, and edged in bobbin tape, 37.5 cm long. Although the large sprouting bloom motif can be found in the late 17th and early 18th century, the long slim shape of the elbow length gloves suggests a late 18th or early 19th century date.
Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence.
Conserved 1995 – 1999 with help from the NHLF.

Accession No. 23451

A ladies’ cream glove, circa 1820 – 1830, cut from machine knitted silk and sewn together, the bracelet band embroidered with horizontal daisies, the lower arms and knuckles with larger blooms in twisted corded silk and floss silk, raised work-centres, 29.5 cm long.
Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence.
Conserved 1995 – 1999 with help from NHLF

Accession No. 23452

A ladies’ cream glove cut from machine knitted silk with net and stitched together, circa 1820 – 30, elbow length, embroidered with horizontal rose buds, the knuckles and lower arm with larger rose sprigs in twisted corded silk and floss silk, raised work centres, 29.5 cm long.
Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence.
Conserved 1995 – 1999 with help from NHLF.

Accession No. 23453 + A

A pair of ladies’ knitted ivory silk elbow-length mittens, circa 1800 – 1820, the machine knitted silk ground with bracelet style panel to the wrist, ribbed upper and lower edges, separately seamed thumb, Indian raised work embroidered floral medallions to the arm section and silk and gold purl wire thread roses and arches to the knuckles, 24 cm long. The raised purl-wire embroidery is typical of work done in Delhi in the the 19th century.
Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence.
Conserved 1995 – 1999 with help from NHLF.

Accession No. 23454 + A

A pair of babies’ false-quilted finger-less mittens, circa 1700 – 1710, the natural linen beige fabric ground with overall quatrefoil and sprigged linked repeats in tiny yellow silk running stitches, the angular gauntlet, thumb and finger guard bound in yellow ribbon binding, then folded and whip-stitched, 12 cm long. (See Phillips May 16 1985 for a similarly embroidered pair of mittens) This pair and the following pair were reproduced in ‘Connoisseur’ October 1919, the Collection of Robert Spence page 90 items 11 and 11a. Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence.
Conserved 1995 – 1999 with help from NHLF.

Accession No. 23455 + A

A pair of babies’ false quilted beige sleeve panels, circa 1700 – 1710, the natural linen fabric ground with overall quatrefoil and sprigged linked repeats in tiny yellow running silk stitches, bound in yellow ribbon binding, then folded and whip-stitched. 15 cm long. The sleeves are cut from the same material and embroidered to match the childrens’ mittens, accession number 23454. This kind of work is most commonly found on ladies’ waistcoats, embroidered cradle sets and infant-wear. It was common in the early 18th century to find in a layette, separately worked baby sleeves which were not stitched to the robes.
Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence.
Conserved 1995 – 1999 with help from NHLF.

Accession No. 23456 + A

A pair of quilted silk baby sleeves circa 1730 – 50, of ivory silk, padded and quilted overall with scrolling blooms to the cuff, flowerheads and diamond lozenges to the body, edged in matching silk ribbon. This kind of work is commonly found on ladies’ decorative petticoats of the period, which would have been displayed prominently within their open robes.
Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence.
Conserved 1995 – 1999 with help from NHLF.

Accession No. 23457 + A

A rare pair of mens’ armoured gloves, circa 1600 – 1650, formed from layers of heavy buff leather, suede side uppermost, the wide gauntlets formed from interlocking pinked lobes of the same buff leather, the open sides with remains of cord used to fasten through four corresponding slots on the other side, 41cm long. Possibly for riding or military use. See Redfern page 8 for illustration of a similar glove, held in the Collection of the Tower of London, formerly part of the Bry-y-Pys collection.
Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence.
Conserved 1995 – 1999 with help from NHLF

Accession No. 23458 + A

A pair of ladies’ long, shaped fingerless mittens, circa 1700 – 1715, of kid leather grain outside, overstitched hand and thumb edges and with decorative silk running stitch, the mittens of extremely long, narrow form widening at the armholes, barely visible rows of pointing stitches and floss silk embroidered birds to the pointed finger guards, lined in green silk, 44 cm long. See accession number 23459 for a similar pair.
Probably used for formal or evening wear.
Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence.
Conserved 1995 – 1999 with help from NHLF

Accession No. 23459 + A

A ladies’ pair of long white kid leather fingerless mittens, grain side out, circa 1700 – 1715, of extremely long and narrow shape, of softest white kid, the knuckles adorned with three simple rows of vertical stitching, the pointed flaps worked with silver thread in long and short stitch with flower sprays, edged and lined in pale blue silk,
43 cm long. These were produced in ‘Connoisseur’ vol.58, p.24, September 1920
as Mr Robert Spence’s Collection. The embroidery is reminiscent of early 18th century embroidery found on samplers, the use of this wiry silver thread was popular.
Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence.
Conserved 1995 – 1999 with help from NHLF.

Accession No. 23460 + A

A men’s pair of embroidered gauntlet leather gloves, suede side up, circa 1616 – 30, of white leather dyed buff, with separately worked gauntlet each of six tabs, covered in deep rose-pink satin, worked with split stitch and satin stitch irises, pansies and fruits in mainly blue and green silks, fabulous silver brick-stitched canopies, gold and silver purl wire quatrefoils and foliate scrolls, edged in silver picoted lace trimmed with sequins, elongated fingers and thumbs, 39 cm long. Sotherby’s sale record for these gloves, November 5th 1928 states that they were sold for £160 as part of the collection of Sir Hercules Reed, who was for many years keeper of the British and Medieval Antiquities at the British Museum.
Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence.
Conserved in 1995 – 1999 with help from NHLF.

Accession No. 23461 + A

A pair of ladies’ embroidered silk mittens for day wear, circa 1730,of beige silk with deep salmon pink undulating cuff panels and lining, embroidered to the front in long and short stitch in pastel shades with floral tendrils and fruits, with gold and silver strip detailing, the thumb panel seams over-sewn in pink cross stitch. The embroidery is typical of that found on decorative aprons of the 1730’s.
Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence.
Conserved 1995 – 1999 with help from NHLF.

Accession No. 23462

A rare buff leather child’s glove, probably late 17th century but with later trimming, overseam stitching, with punched decoration to the integral gauntlet, crimson silk lining and edging and crimson silk ovals within brown braid scrolls to the knuckles, brown braid looped gauntlet edging, 14.5 cm long.
Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence.

Accession No. 23463 + A

A men’s pair of embroidered gauntlet gloves, circa 1625 – 35, with separately worked stepped gauntlets which reach from the elbow to the hand, the buff leather glove plain below, the elaborate raised-work gauntlet with central motif of the pelican in her piety worked in seed pearls and gold purl against a couched gold thread ground, the gauntlet of white satin embroidered overall in raised and couched metal threads in raised brick stitch, with elaborate seed pearl and purl wire kylins, serpents, unusual mitre shaped pockets to the corners, lined in salmon pink silk and with three silk ribbon bands to the sides, the whole edged and trimmed with scalloped bobbin lace threaded with sequins, seed pearls and spangles in bird motifs, mitre shaped pocket, 39 cm long. The lavishness of these gloves suggests that they were intended as a gift for a high ranking person, or were a betrothal gift.
Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence.
Conserved 1995 – 1999 with help from the NHLF.

Others at Bath 2005 - 363 & 364

Accession No.2005-363+A

A men’s pair of buff kid leather gloves, circa 1620 –30, the integral gauntlet, fingers and knuckles outlined in gold thread in double chain stitch, similarly worked rosettes, edged and lined in brown silk, two brown silk tabs to the sides, edged in gold lace spangled with sequins, 34 cm long. The lining has been marked in ink ‘gloves of King Charles I, W.B. Redfern’s collection’. The gloves are illustrated in ‘Royal and Historic Gloves and Shoes by W. B. Redfern’, published by Methuan, 1904 p33 and formed part of the authors own collection. The provenance given in his book is interesting though far from conclusive, the detail can be found within the supporting records of the catalogue of the Livery.
Purchased by the Livery in 2003 with funds donated by past master Jack Bishop.

Accession No.2005-364+A

A ladies’ pair of gloves, probably French, circa 1660 – 80, of alum tawed kid leather, embroidered in green silks to the fingers and cuff and trimmed with salmon pink pom-poms, 32 cm long. Part of the Mansell-Pleydell collection, taken from a country house in Dorset. Purchased by the Livery Glove Collection Trust in 2003 with funds received from the late John Hobley bequest, arranged by past Master John Wood.
Conserved in 2004 by Liveryman Marion Kite.

Top of page and catalogue links

Accession No. 2007.12. +A

A pair of men’s brown leather gloves with fine roundseam handsewn stitching, dated from 1660 to 1670, designed for fashion and status.

They have elongated exaggerated fingers and are adorned with couched gold threads, purl wire and wine coloured silk flowerheads, edged in gold fringes.

Acquired by the trustees at a Kerry Taylor Auction

Accession No. 2007.25. +A

A pair of men’s knitted red silk ecclesiastical gloves of the 17th Century, Italian.

The gloves would have been worn by high ranking clergy on important occasions.
They incorporate the I.H.S. symbol on the back of each hand.

Acquired by the Trustees. Part of the Ikle collection of historic gloves.

Accession No. 2009.7. +A

2011.75. +A (Original acquision within Collection Trust after conservation 2009.7.+A) (Originally 2001.3.2; 43+A (ii) before conservation)


Men’s leather gauntlets dated 1625, leather of indeterminate colour being of poor condition. The gloves designed for dresswear or riding with the gauntlets heavily embroidered with gold and silver wire. The side vent appears to be repaired with turquoise linen or silk. There may have been a fringe and/or side tabs. Fingers of elongated construction.

Donated in 2001 by Reverend A.C.Winter via Past Master Margaret Linton.
Conserved by Poppy Singer in 2008.

Accession No. 2009.8. +A

2011.74. +A (Original acquisition within Collection Trust 2009.8.+A)


A pair of men’s leather daywear wedding gloves, buff in colour, perhaps white originally, made in England in 1620’s /1630’s.

Inseam stitching with fourchettes to fingers and inset thumbs. Gauntlets embroidered with couched gold and silver metal threads and gold sequins and trimmed with silk and metal thread fringing. Gauntlets lined with carnation coloured silk. Overall length 28 cms.

Worn by William Griffiths (1597-1648), Master of the Rolls 1635, on his wedding day.

Purchased in November 2009 from R. Bennett by the Trustees.

Accession No. 2011.73 (2011.2.)

At the coronations of the British monarchy, the sovereign’s right hand glove is removed and the coronation ring is put on. For some 150 years, the coronation gloves have been produced by Messrs Harborow of London. A duplicate glove was always made in case of accident to the original and in 1972, Messrs Harborow presented these to the Glovers Company and they now are held on loan by the Museum of Costume at Bath together with the gloves in the Historic Collections of the Company.

In 1953, the Glovers Company was itself granted the privilege of producing the glove for H.M Queen Elizabeth II under instructions from the Lord Chamberlain acting pursuant to the Earl Marshal’s directive. They were made by Messrs Dents of Warminster and the original glove worn by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation on 2nd June 1953 is now held on loan by the Museum of Costume, Bath with the other coronation gloves from the Glovers Company. This duplicate glove passed first to the Museum of London and was returned to the Glovers Company in April 2011, and has been loaned by the Trustees to the Museum of Costume, Bath, along with the other gloves in the Historic Collections of the Glovers Company.


The hand is of white kid leather, grain side out with a separately embroidered gauntlet, lined in crimson silk, covered with raised purl wire embroidery and metal strip, sprigged with sequins with roses, acorns and shamrocks, the back of the upper hand with raised gold purl E II R below embroidered and red velvet queenly crown.


See next page

2011.73 Continued


Duplicate glove for the coronation of H. M. Queen Elizabeth II.