A
Long History of Gloves
In ancient Assyria and Egypt attached great importance to gloves and
it were a sign of nobility. Ancient Greeks and Romans ate with hands and used gloves on feasts that not to get burn.
In VIII century gloves became an important element of a knightly costume.
First they were made from iron, but then they were made from leather and were used in various ceremonies.
Later handshake in gloves was like insult. If glove was thrown in somebody’s
face it meant contempt and challenge to fight a duel. And if woman presented
gloves to some man it meant that he won her favour.
Women began to wear clothes for hands only from XI century. It was made
from white flax and decorated with embroidery.
In Renaissance gloves wasn’t only a sign of power and luxury, but
also it used as a murder tool. In Italy there were "waterproof gloves",
impregnated with poison. With the help of such gloves the French queen
Ekaterina Medici got rid from disliked people.
In XVI century gloves were decorated not only with embroidery, but also
with jewelry and fur. The most expensive was elaborate lace Venetian
gloves. In XVIII century the fashion on ladies' gloves prospered. Women
change their gloves three – four times a day.
In the end of XVIII – the beginning of XIX centuries was in fashion
dresses almost without sleeves. That is why long gloves became fashionable.
Usually men put on gloves when they went for a walk or to the theater – for
every case they was different colors and quality.
In XIX century good manners recommended to women who came for a visit
to put off gloves only behind a table. In the summer usually put on lace
or tulle gloves and mitten. In winter were worn leather and fleece gloves.
Men, according to dress coat, needed to carry white or light yellow gloves.
They should be ideally clean, neat and skintight. In the beginning of
XX century began to make gloves for different purposes: automobile, surgical,
massage, etc.
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