Glove stretcher
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Glove stretcher is a 19th century device for "easing" (stretching) the gloves.[1] The rounded tips of the stretchers, typically made of two wooden pieces hinged in the middle and spring-loaded,[2] were placed inside the fingers of a glove. The handles were then squeezed so the fingers were stretched,[3] allowing the glove to be put on without damaging it.[4] The scissors-like implements were also made from metal and celluloid.[5]
History
[edit]Glove stretchers were popular in the Victorian era.[2]
Kid leather was considered to be the best material for gloves worn by a proper Victorian lady, as cotton and silk were easily stretchable, thus revealing the imperfections of a hand. The leather of a young goat was essential to emulate the desired appearance of a hand with tapered fingertips. The scissor-like stretchers were helping to preserve the shape of the glove fingers after washing.[6]
A 1908 advice on washing the chamois gloves suggests using the stretcher as an alternative to washing and drying the gloves on hands.[7]
In the 19th century the stretchers were widespread, every "good" shop or household was expected to have one.[4] In the 21st century the original device resembling the scissors is largely forgotten. Haglund reports that while playing a version of the Kim's game, children are no longer able to guess the purpose of the implement.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ William Henry Baker (1908). A Dictionary of Men's Wear ... with an Appendix Containing Sundry Useful Tables: The Uniforms of "ancient and Honorable" Independent Military Companies of the U. S.; Charts of Correct Dress, Livery, and So Forth. W. H. Baker. p. 120. OCLC 1043004215.
- ^ a b "Close to the Skin: A Revealing look at Lingerie" (PDF). berkshirehistory.org. Berkshire County Historical Society. 2015. p. 18. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ National Coal Mining Museum 2021, p. 7.
- ^ a b Eliza Leslie (1854). The Behaviour Book: A Manual for Ladies (5 ed.). Willis P. Hazard. pp. 83–. OCLC 1336198599.
- ^ Rogers Historical Museum. "Donation of the month". rogersar.gov. Rogers Historical Museum. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- ^ Beaujot 2012, p. 44.
- ^ Fabrics, Fancy Goods and Notions, Volume 42. McCready Publishing Company. 1908. p. 66.
- ^ Haglund, Laila (2008). "Introduction and Background". Brewarrina Shire Community Based Heritage Study (PDF). Sydney: Haglund & Associates Pty Ltd.
Sources
[edit]- National Coal Mining Museum (2021). "Victorian home" (PDF). www.ncm.org.uk. National Coal Mining Museum for England. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
- Beaujot, Ariel (2012), ""The Beauty of Her Hands": The Glove and the Making of Middle-class Womanhood", Victorian Fashion Accessories, Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, pp. 31–62, doi:10.2752/9781472504517/Beaujot0003
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