Gloves: a variety of purposes

Gloves are an integral part of human clothing to protect the hands, just as shoes and other footwear are designed to protect the feet. Many different purposes and specific types of protection have been required.

Metallic gloves were included in traditional mail in ancient love used in warfare. Leather gloves were part of the usual clothing of horsemen and soldiers. Among the specific orders of Knights of the realm, certain customs prevailed regarding gloves and their design and symbolism. This gave rise to the expression ‘throwing down the gauntlet’ when challenging an opponent not only on the lists, but also challenging another’s honor before engaging in a duel to settle an issue.

In the social life of previous centuries, gloves were given as a usual New Year’s gift. They were considerably more expensive items than modern gloves, and money was sometimes given instead, earning the term “glove money”. It is recorded that Sir Thomas More, as Lord Chancellor, after deciding a case in favor of a certain lady, received a gift of a pair of gloves with forty gold coins in them. He returned the gold to her with the following note: “Ma’am, since it was against good manners to refuse your New Year’s gift, I’ll settle for taking your gloves, but as for the lining, I reject it entirely.”

Scented gloves served as royal protection for Queen Elizabeth, when inhaled perfume was believed to be a true deterrent to disease. She started the craze, which spread across Europe as those who could afford it tried methods to keep the terror of the plague at bay. The scented gloves provided an easily accessible and enjoyable inhalant at any time. Scents used for this purpose ranged from common garden herbs like the aromatic essential oils of rosemary, thyme and lavender to citrusy bergamot, sweet orange, tuberose, jasmine and the rare sandalwood which, along with cedar and pine, provided a more masculine option. as an alternative to the more feminine sweet-smelling ones.

History records that the gloves were also used as a means of poisoning in methods made infamous for the dubious artistry of the Medici.

Ornamental gloves were very sophisticated in style and embroidery, and fine colors and patterns were employed by the wealthy classes. Usually only royalty could afford to adorn gloves with precious stones, but it became quite popular among all the nobility. There are some beautiful examples of embroidered gloves surviving in museums today.

Ecclesiastical gloves were used to symbolize a detachment from the material world in the performance of religious rituals. Ceremonial gloves are used in state and religious rituals and in Freemasonry.

There was a time when fashion demanded that both men and women of refinement wear gloves when out in public or as a regular part of travel attire. Sometimes this was expanded to include indoor social custom as well. But generally, the gloves were removed when they were indoors.

The gloves can be of several types: the regular ones are those that allow the freedom of each individual finger and the mittens that separate the thumb from the other remaining fingers to share a cover. This was often a distinction in the dress of people of social class when poorer people could generally only afford to wear crudely made mittens or gloves as protection against the cold.

In modern life, glove manufacturing has a wide range of special purposes, including the following:

– Soft baby mittens to prevent scratching of the skin

– Padded gloves against the cold for arctic travelers and mountaineers

– Padded boxing gloves, cricket gloves, baseball gloves and other sports gloves

– Gardening gloves to protect against dirt, soil friction and thorns.

– Workers gloves to wear when handling stone bricks or other rough material

– Police officers on duty wear white gloves.

– Surgical gloves of fine material for use by doctors

– Dentist gloves to avoid direct contact with saliva as protection against AIDS

– Veterinary gloves up to the elbow for work with animals and agricultural use.

– Protective gloves in the industry against contact with harmful chemicals

– Driving gloves to strengthen the grip of the wheels when driving

– Antiquarian library gloves to protect books and manuscripts from tampering.

– Rubber gloves for household use when cleaning, scrubbing, etc.

– Oven mitts in the kitchen used to protect hands against heat.

– Bath mitts and gloves for body hygiene and stimulation of the skin surface

– Formal evening attire still includes gloves.

– Fashion gloves are still used as an accessory to complement the dress.

Fashion gloves can be adapted beyond the useful function of protecting the hands, to offer a beautiful decorative note when dressing and highlight certain colors and qualities through their shades and design. However, there are few fashion examples today that focus on decorative gloves, although beaded gloves and occasionally jewelery can sometimes be seen. Modern taste is for a more obvious reflection of the color theme of the dress and to match the bag, shoes, and hat of the full ensemble. With the growing trend towards casual wear, there is little demand for fashionable gloves today. They will certainly return in the cyclical habit of fashion and taste.