Apologies for lack of updates, fellow medievalists! Exams and such. Will get posting asap x
English Bishop’s Gloves
Provenance: c. 1386
Fiber: very fine red silk with metallic thread
Colors: see above
Gauge:
Technique:
Description and Notes:
THE left-hand glove of a pair of great interest and beauty, and, taking into consideration their age (517 years), in a wonderful state of preservation; they are made of crimson, purl knitted, silk, embroidered on the backs and cuffs with gold, now faded and tarnished. The octagon designs round the cuffs are separated by small squares of green silk; a double band of gold embroidery encircles each finger and thumb. The entire length of the gloves from the tip of the middle finger to the edge of the cuff is 9¾ inches. The cuffs are lined with crimson silk: the circles on the back of the hand, with their sixteen flame-pointed arms worked in gold, surround the sacred monogram.
These early ecclesiastical gloves belonged to William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester, the founder of New College, Oxford (originally designated St. Mary’s College of Winchester in Oxenford), in 1379, and were probably worn by him at the opening religious ceremonial, April 14th, 1386.
They are carefully preserved in the Treasury of New College, Oxford.
Nicolaus Shimer Bishop’s Gloves
Provenance: early 16th Century, 1510
Fiber: very fine red silk with metallic thread
Colors: see above
Gauge:
Technique:
Description and Notes:
From “The Knitted Textile Treasures of Sion” in the HistoricKnit Yahoo! Group Files: “Sion also contains excellent examples of early “inconsutilis” or bishops gloves. A pair were found in the tomb of Bishop Nikolaus Schiner of Sion , from the 15th [sic] Century. These were knitted in very fine red silk with a metallic thread pattern. The pattern giving a ringer effect to the fingers of the gloves and the back is decorated with a eight point star, the side seam is decorated with metallic knits. These gloves were conserved by gentle washing and dried on stuffed plastic gloves, they are presented in their conserved state on dyed tricot-knit gloves to give support to the gloves and damaged parts which are stitched to the support.”
Spanish Liturgical Gloves
Provenance: 16th Century, Victoria & Albert Museum
Fiber: silk and silver strip
Colors: red and yellow-wrapped-with-silver
Gauge:
Technique: stocking stitch, knitted in the round, with the second thread woven into the back of the stitches so that the inside is neatly finished. The thumb was knitted separately, also in the round, and there is a diamond-shaped gusset between the thumb and index finger.
Description and Notes:
These Spanish gloves are an early example of European knitting as few pieces survive prior to the 16th century. The earliest knitted objects are found in Spain, and we think the craft was introduced via Islamic culture from North Africa.
These gloves were made for a bishop and are decorated with religious symbols. These include a cross surmounting a heart, a shepherd’s crook or bishop’s crozier to the left, and a reliquary to the right. The cuffs are patterned with geometric designs and a Greek wave motif appears on the fingers and wrist. The silver-gilt bobbin lace and plaited braid applied to the fingers gives the appearance of the seam lines in sewn leather gloves.
Pharmacy, ca. 1467 (WLB Stuttgart Cod. poet et phil. fol. 2, fol. 261r)
from the Liber Floridus, a medieval encyclopedia
go to this blog http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/
