Gloves & Mittens

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Mittens

A glove where all of the fingers are in a single section.
Art
--
Literature

Archaeology

Woven Mittens

  • Scotland, Shetland, Jarlshof?. Woven mitten (described as a glove) discovered by peat cutting. [OLIVER 2012:p.184]
  • Norway, Southern. woven mitten dating to c.800AD. Found in retreating glacial melt 2006-2011AD. (NRK 21/3/2013)
  • Frisia, 2 finds from Netherlands
  • Iceland
    • Akranes Mitten, found in 1881 on the peninsula Akranes, north of Reykjavik.It is a left mitten made from woven, red-brown cloth, 28cm long and 11cm wide with a gore to extend it out over the wrist and an inset thumb. Believed to be from the 10th Century [LEHMANN-FILHÉS 1896]:p.29-30


Naalbound Mittens

  • Iceland, 2 finds of nalebinding [WALTON 1989]:p.343
    • Arneidarstadir, Fljótsdalshérad found 1889. Naalbound mitten of thick plied yarn, 26cm long, left hand. Believed to be from the 10th Century. [LEHMANN-FILHÉS 1896]:p.29-30
  • Finland, possible fragments of nalebinding [WALTON 1989]:p.343

Discussion
For a discussion regarding nalebinding see Socks.
A nålbundna mitten from Asle, Västergötland in Sweden found in the 1930s was up until 2002 dated to 1000 - 1200AD. Following a C14 test it has now been re-dated to 1510-1640 (SHM Online Jan 2003).

Gloves

A leather or cloth covering for the hand with separate sections for each finger
Art
No clear depictions in Anglo-Saxon art [OWEN-CROCKER 2004]:p.265
Literature

  • Glof – a glove [OWEN-CROCKER 2004]:p.340
  • Byrhtnoth’s obits, England, late C10th [OWEN-CROCKER 2004]:p.265 Byrhtnoth, Ealdorman of Essex, bequeathed - ‘binisque cyrothecis artificiose compositis’ – a pair of skilfully made gloves.

Archaeology
--
Discussion
Owen-Crocker points out that in Anglo-Saxon hunting images men appear to carry birds of prey on their bare arms and that the warriors in the Bayeux Tapestry also have bare hands. She comments “Not for the first time, we must question whether art is trueful’. [OWEN-CROCKER 2004]:p.265

See Also

Socks & other foot coverings

References

Brandenburgh, Chrystel R. (2009) 'Early medieval textile remains from settlements in the Netherlands. An evaluation of textile production'. Journal of Archaeology in the Low Countries 2-1(May 2010). [BRANDENBURGH 2009] ^ 1 2 *
Owen-Crocker, Gale R. (2004) Dress in Anglo-Saxon England. 2nd ed. The Boydell Press. [OWEN-CROCKER 2004] ^ 1 2 3 4 5 *
Walton, Penelope (1989) Textiles, Cordage and Raw Fibre from 16-22 Coppergate. York Archaeological Trust: 17/05 [WALTON 1989] ^ 1 2 *
Lehmann-Filhés, Margarethe (1896) 'Zwei Isländische Handschuhe'. Zeitschrift für Ethnologie; 29-30. (available online) [LEHMANN-FILHÉS 1896] ^ 1 2 *