A short history of gloves

Glove making is an ancient and solitary art that has been mixed with human culture since the time of the cavemen. The first gloves looked like raw mittens. Over the years, glove manufacturing has become a fine art. Articulated fingers were sewn to provide greater dexterity and greater ease of movement. While glove manufacturing corporations once dominated in a hand-obsessed society, there are very few left today. Even fewer models available for hand-made gloves. Machine-sewn and hand-finished gloves are usually what you will find on the market.

Gloves can be found in ancient writings, such as Homer's Odyssey, in which Laertes would have gloves in his garden to avoid brambles. The translation of this text is the subject of a debate. In the History of Herodotus, written in 440 BC BC, Herodotus describes the manner in which Leotychides was granted a bribe in the form of a gantelet overflowing with silver, which later incriminated him.

Over the years, the complexity and versatility of gloves has increased. The plated gauntlets date back to the early fourteenth century. Before that, the mail gloves were worn. Some knights would have worn mail gloves under their plated gloves for more strength.

Now, if we look at the world of fashion, we see a wonderful range of styles. Cloth and leather gauntlets wore intricate embroidery. Ladies in the 19th century worshiped opera gloves. A peculiarity is that they tried to get their hands into gloves too small! This forced the hand to rest in a half-cut position - perfect for greeting, but not for kissing. If you've ever tried putting on a glove that's too big for you, you realize how much these women have done! The button and the alum powder allowed some lubrication, but before an opera, the women were determined to sit for hours, hands in tight gloves.

There are few volumes that give us a glimpse of the first gloves. One of the most revered that exists today is The Glove. The book, although entirely in French, reveals many reasons and discloses a brief development and a history of the glove. Also included are passages explaining the social relevance and sexual significance of the period for the glove.

Insulation of heat or cold. Protection against scratches and cuts. The instigation of duels. Bold or meticulous fashion statements. Gloves have worn a lot of hats, so to speak, throughout history. They continue to be an integral part of many jobs today. In contrast, the use of gloves as fashion accessories has declined sharply in recent decades. Fewer girls are attending their prom with gloves. Fashion is an inconstant thing, and only time will tell the future of the glove.