A Regency Evening Glove size 6 1/2 (circa 1815) from the Fownes Collection. By kind permission of the Worcester City Museum and Art Gallery. (Click for a more detailed view)

 

Song of Glove and Glovemaking 

by Mr Whitely

 1781

Ye Worcestershire Belles, who Great Britain adorn

As sweet as fresh rose-buds as the bright as the morn!

Soft source of contentment, and fountain of love

Hear me sing the just praise of your favourite Glove.

 

Without which, the ladies assembly or ball

Would want decoration, which finishes all,

In the fine swimming dance, when you animate love,

How graceful each arm is adorn’d with a Glove!

 

As neat, and as white as the snowy-sleek arm,

Whose action inspires, like a magical charm,

A passion as tender as that of the Dove,

With the elegant aid of a well-finish’d Glove.

 

Tho their hands and their arms may be sun-burnt brown,

Yet ladies appear, in court, country and town –

When dress is compleated, like angels above,

With the emblem of innocence we call a Glove.

 

All conquering love, the invincible name,

Since Adam first felt thy omnipotent flame,

Thy votaries all irrefragably prove

Many conquests obtain by the aid of a Glove.

 

The officer brave, or effeminate beau

When equipp’d for the field, or at court to make show,

In elements proper never can move

Without either buff – or the chicken skin Glove.

 

To prove the legality of the King’s crown

His champion a Glove, call’d a Gauntlet, throws down;

In conflicts of honour, or rivals in love

All heroes make use of a challenging Glove.

 

Then let me in sonnet, forget not to raise

The Cutter and Finisher’s merited praise,

Contrivers by art to embellish soft love

By their lambskin and kid, finely formed in a Glove.

 

 

 

An 1847 fashion plate

By permission of the Worcestershire Record Office

Ref 4238 BA705:385 parcel 4