Gloves & Mittens

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

• Hand-scio – a mitten ^{[OWEN-CROCKER 2004]:p.340}

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
  • Dorestadt, 600-900AD. Made from 4 pieces of felted, woven cloth. ^{[BRANDENBURGH 2009]:p. 69-70}
  • Aalsum, 750-900AD. Woven cloth mitten. ^{[BRANDENBURGH 2009]:p. 69, 71}
• 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).

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
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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}

Socks & other foot coverings