Nowadays gloves are a regular feature of our wardrobe.

Few people know that this accessory has been around for about 4,000 years and can still support non-verbal conversation between people.

Lycra gloves

Lace gloves. France 19th century.

Legend:

Walking along the seashore, the goddess Venus cut her finger on the edge of a seashell. The nymphs bandaged the wound and, just in case, the goddess's hands with linen ribbons. This is how the world's first gloves came into being.

Gloves not only have a long, but also a very entertaining history, affecting both Egyptian pharaohs and European bourgeois.

The gauntlet was thrown when challenging an opponent to a duel. The gauntlet was given when knighted. A gauntlet given by a lady signified cordial affection. The glove was a symbol associated with etiquette, power and even love...

The first gloves looked rather exotic: small hand pouches that were tied around the wrist. These gloves originated in ancient Egypt. Later, the pouches had a protrusion for the thumb. Egyptian women used these gloves to eat and work so they wouldn't get their hands dirty.

Gloves found in the pyramid of Tutankhamun Egypt.

Knitted gloves 17 in.

One of the oldest gloves was found by archaeologists in 1922 during the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb. In the pharaoh's glove, for the first time, all the fingers were separated.

Pharaohs wore this accessory as a symbol of high status. Women wore them to preserve the beauty of their hands.

King Cyrus II of Persia, who lived in the sixth century BC, executed his subjects simply because they dared to appear before him without gloves.

In the ancient world, gloves served as a protective device for the hands in various jobs. Shepherds and farmers wore them when dealing with thorny grass.

Knitted gloves 17 in

Knight's gauntlet

The ancient Greeks did not approve of people wearing gloves, considering them to be gentlemen, wearing them only for hard work.

In ancient Rome, this accessory was worn by almost everyone. Gloves protected your hands not only from cold and dirt, but also from hot food. The Romans wore gloves made from silk or linen. This made it safer to get hot meat out of the heat - they did not know forks.

Gladiators and athletes used to protect their hands during fist fights by wrapping long straps of rawhide around them, leaving their fingers free.

Fashion historians suggest that the real cult of the glove emerged in the late Middle Ages, when it evolved from a useful item of clothing into a fashionable addition to clothes. The glove became a symbol of power. Bishops received it when they were ordained, knights swore an oath of allegiance and were promoted, and town dwellers were given a glove as a symbol of their special privileges.

Lycra glove from the 18th century.

Glovemaking in the 19th century.

Permission to trade, collect taxes and mint coins was granted by handing over a royal glove. Judges only started work by putting this accessory on their hands.

Gloves played a special role in the lives of medieval knights. A glove thrown in the face meant a terrible insult, followed by a duel. A glove received from a lady was a sign of her favour. When a knight received such a gift he never parted with it. The glove was worn in a special pouch around the neck or behind the belt.

From the 12th century onwards, gloves became an essential and important item in a woman's wardrobe. They were decorated with coloured embroidery, sprinkled with perfume and adorned with jewels and pearls.

Long and short, with or without fingers, buttons and ties, made of leather, suede and silk, the gloves were embroidered with pearls, enamel pendants and metal plates with incisions and niello.

Priests wore white gloves, by special papal decree, symbolising purity.

Gloves made of deerskin, calfskin and lambskin were available to mere mortals.

Mittens and gloves came to Russia quite late.

Finger grip. Russia.

Royal gloves. Europe. 18 в.

In those days it was common to have long sleeves rolled up before work (hence the expression 'rolled up sleeves' came to mean 'hard at work') and then pulled down after work in winter to keep your hands warm. Of course, with their sleeves rolled up they did not work well. Hence the proverb: "with your sleeves down".

As in other countries, gloves in Russia were a sign of wealth and nobility.

With the introduction of European fashion by Peter the Great, gloves became an indispensable part of both men's and women's toiletries. Initially, they were brought from abroad. In the course of time, their own glovemakers appeared.

Gloves 17 in.

England. Men's suede gloves. 18 в.

Knitted gloves Early 20th century.

Lycra gloves from the 18th century.

Suede gloves. England. 18 в.

A curious historical fact: once Russian Emperor Nicholas I, a great zealot for order, saw an officer at a ball without gloves and considered it unthinkable impertinence. The officer replied that he had lost his gloves. Nicholas I then gave him his own.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Russia began producing laika, a particularly softly dressed leather that was used to make the thinnest, most supple gloves. Until the middle of the 19th century, gloves were sewn by hand.

The husky gloves were very difficult to put on, so this operation was only done at home. The small buttons were fastened with a special tool.

A tool for buttoning buttons.

Ladies were allowed to wear gloves both indoors and during the greeting, but were expected to remove them at the table before the meal.

Lycra gloves with guipure decoration. Europe. 18 в.

In the 19th century, high society had special gloves for all occasions: ballroom gloves, gloves for social occasions, day gloves, riding gloves, travel gloves and outdoor gloves. 

Up until the 1930s, gloves were bought by the dozens and never worn out.

Gloves have always been and continue to be a great gift.

Glove tongue.

The lady used the gloves to signal her lover, to show her interest or to ask him to stand aside. The man had only to watch carefully what the lady was doing with her gloves.

Common meanings:

• "Yes," the glove should have been inadvertently dropped.
• "No" - going over the gloves in his hands.
• "I hate you" - turn the gloves inside out.
• "I love you" - dropping both gloves on the floor.
• "Forgive me" - put the glove of your right hand to your heart.
• "Chagrin" - hit your hand hard with your gloves.
• "I want to meet you" - hold the gloves down with the fingers.
• "I'm busy" - toss the gloves up slightly.
• "I love someone else" - pat the glove on my chin.

Lycra, ball gloves.

Doll in gloves. Nevsky Prospect. Author - Evgeniya Egorova

Information source:

"Cultural Heritage. The history of the gloves. N. Muller.

Photos are taken from open sources on the Internet.

With love and respect, Tatiana Kalinina