Glove
Date1791 (dated)
OriginEngland
MediumChamois leather, printed.
DimensionsOW: 3 5/8 in
OL: 8 1/2 in
OL: 8 1/2 in
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1985-218,2
DescriptionOne of a pair of short gloves in gold color chamois leather, printed in black decorative designs. A rope chain motif is printed around the wrist, a bellflower band surrounds the thumb seaming, and a scene with a man and a woman in a landscape is centered on the back of the hand.Label TextFiber, Fabric, and Fortune:Leather refers to animal skins which have been tanned. Tanning was a chemical process that prevented the skin from decaying, using "tannins," compounds found in certain plants and minerals. After tanning, leather was curried, a finishing process that could include smoothing and evening out the leather's surface, applying tallow or other fat for water resistance, and dyeing.
The characteristics of leather depend on the animal skin used. These gloves are made of chamois, a leather made from goat skin. Because these skins have a less grainy surface, when processed, they are known for being very soft.
