- DIMENSIONS:
- Length 285 mm; Width 130 mm
- DESCRIPTION:
- Right-hand
glove of red-brown doeskin with an overlaid panel of grey-white kid
or dogskin on the upper palm of the hand, curving up to the lower joint
of the thumb and index finger and extending the full length of the other
three fingers. Lining of white doeskin. The glove is made in two main
pieces, a front and a back of the hand, and is lined throughout. The
area of the glove usually called the gauntlet curves obliquely outwards
and is open from the wrist to the edge of the glove, an opening of some
77 mm. The edge of the glove, but not the gauntlet opening, has a narrow
border, 5 mm deep, of pink linen which extends as a lining 70 mm inside
the glove. The glove is embroidered with rows of silver-gilt thread
held by red silk couching stitches. Six rows of this embroidery form
a band which encircles the wrist, and the gauntlet is embroidered with
three circular motifs, one at the centre front, one at the centre back,
and one on the inside fold. Each motif is 60 mm in diameter, with an
edging row of couched blue silk and two inner circles of similar silk
between the silver-gilt. Joining motifs together there is a horizontal
row of couched metal thread. On the outside edge of the gauntlet, just
above the opening, is a small yellow silk tassle with a metal thread
waist. On the palm of the hand the overlaid panel of grey-white kid
is cut in a curving and looping pattern; the edge of this is embroidered
with pink silk couching stitches over linen thread. Just below the little
finger there is a small circular motif, similar in design and execution
to those on the gauntlet. The linen stitching is sewn to an average
of six stitches to the centimetre. The glove is faded and worn, and
partly unstitched. The narrow linen band around the edge of the gauntlet
is an indication that there was originally some decoration here, possibly
fringing or additional rows of metal thread.
- COMMENTARY:
- This glove
may have belonged to either of the two sets mentioned in the 1656 catalogue.
The association with Henry VIII seems likely enough: the style and decoration
of the glove are consistent with the type of embroidered glove worn
in the early sixteenth century. The tradition that this is a hawking
glove also seems acceptable. Henry VIII's passion for the sport is well
documented, and the glove is suitably constructed for this purpose.
In all probability it is one of the items given by royal warrant to
the elder Tradescant in 1635.
- Museum Id. No:
- 1656 p. 477: Henry the 8, his Stirrups, Haukes-Hoods, Gloves, or,
1656 p. 49: Henry 8, hawking-glove, hawks-hood, dogs-coller
1685 B no. 228: Chirothecae Henrici 8ti Accipitariae, ex corio confectae,
cum quatuor cucullis accipitarijs
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