Gloves for Gentlemen

[Middlesex_Cannoneer]

I have done some research on what type of gloves were worn by Gentlemen during the 1860's but have come up with no definitive answer. What material would be used and style for a upperclass Gentlemen of the period? I don't think they would always wear white gloves, would they be made of leather and other than black. Thank you for your time and cooperation.




Sgt M. Gregory
Middlesex Artillery
55th VA Co B

[Viceroy]

I hope this helps...
http://thesewingacademy.org/index.php?topic=4530.0

Best of luck.

[Middlesex_Cannoneer]

Thank you very much, that helped greatly with colors and fabrics.


Sgt. M Gregory
Middlesex Artillery
55th VA Co B

[Middlesex_Cannoneer]

I've tried to find a maker of Kid Gloves for Men, but have only been able to locate two. One is in Italy and the other is England. Are there any made in this country?

[Spinster]

Try Carter and Jasper Merchantile. They had a source several years ago when I was looking.


Keep an eye out at antique malls as well. While women's kid gloves are much more commonly found, my father's closet yielded a brown pair, a natural kid pair, and a black pair when i started cleaning and sorting. He is 85.

[Elaine Kessinger]

You might take a look here. Some models get price-y... but they do have men's and big men's sizes. Since you've asked in the civie section, I assume you don't need the gauntlets of the military styles.

[pvt_jb]

Some of those have modern snaps so be careful to spend that money on something that is then incorrect. I have white kid silk lined gloves and black wool lined from Madova in Italy. I love the black gloves for colder events as an officer. The white looked great but I might have ruined those. I had them in my valise with some tinware which marked them up real bad and I have been unsuccessful in removing those marks.

[lincolnsguard]

"Carter and Jasper" should be of great help to you.

[Cadet]

I have done some research on what type of gloves were worn by Gentlemen during the 1860's but have come up with no definitive answer. What material would be used and style for a upperclass Gentlemen of the period? I don't think they would always wear white gloves, would they be made of leather and other than black. Thank you for your time and cooperation.

Sgt M. Gregory
Middlesex Artillery
55th VA Co B

Cotton would have probably been used as the glove material by the gentlemen. Leather was more for working and military--not for formal wear. A gentleman might wear leather gloves if riding by horseback, but otherwise would not wear leather. I've only seen white for cotton gloves (cream is probably actually more correct), but I imagine other colors were possible.


Antique stores can be a good source to find gloves--these certainly look better than the ones you get at sutlers.

[hanktrent]

Cotton would have probably been used as the glove material by the gentlemen. Leather was more for working and military--not for formal wear. A gentleman might wear leather gloves if riding by horseback, but otherwise would not wear leather.

I disagree. Kid leather gloves went right up to the highest reaches of society. Ironically, it's harder to find evidence of leather work gloves being used by laborers, except sometimes on teamsters and a few other cases.

For example, formal attire for a wedding, 1858:

http://books.google.com/books?id=30A...56&output=html

"The bridegroom must be in full dress--that is, he must wear a dress coat, which if he pleases, may be faced with white satin; a white satin vest, black pantaloons, and dress boots or pumps, black silk stockings, and white kid gloves, and a white cravat.[/quote]

Hank Trent
hanktrent@gmail.com