Set of Gloves #3

 The third set of gloves is also documented to be approximately 1520 Spain.  It’s another pair of ivory/gilt knit gloves, but much more complicated in design than the first set.                   

These gloves are 11 13/16 inches by 5 3/4 inches.

There are 5 different patterns on the fingers and thumbs, perhaps to portray rings that would otherwise be displayed without the gloves on.  I’m curious to do research into what each of the individual patterns indicate.  Why is there a laurel pattern on the index fingers versus the offset diamonds on the second and fourth?  

The same IHS symbol is knit into the back of both hands and this set has an almost Baroque pattern in the cuff, edged with metallic gimp threads.

The director held the gloves up and was able to show that this set is fully lined in a pale green/blue silk; likely to protect the gilt threads as well as to protect the bishop’s hands.

I’m seeing the construction of the fingertips coming to a much sharper point than the other gloves.  It appears to have three distinct decreases on each tip.

I can also see the changes in tension from where stitches were picked up to add the fingers to the body of the hand.  There is no clear gusset for the thumb- instead perhaps the thumb was knit at the same time as the body of the hand.

Using the loupe, it’s clear to see that the gilt threads are two ply versus the three strands used for the silk.

Getting a close up on the gimp edging was also fascinating.  The pictures I got shows the construction of the gimp with how the stitches created the design.  I’m guessing that there were threads shaped into ovals, possibly knotted in between each, and then the gilt threads were woven in and around the ovals to fill in the design.