For the Display and Stretching of Gloves Hand Carved Beechwood Englich, c.1880
Provenance: Private Collection, London
13" high
Ref: 11156
Both hands are individually carved in three sections, with the centre section of both hands marked with an impressed number "8". With sliding mortice and channel joints to connect the sections by sliding they could be inserted into a flat glove by putting the central section in last and therefore gently stretching the gloves rather than forcing them. A genuine pair, they are in fine original condition with no visible damage or restoration and still in fully functional condition. With an aged surface patina and evidence of use they are delightful pieces of understated vernacular sculpture.
Glove stretchers were essential for shaping and preserving gloves.Crafted from materials like wood or bone, they were inserted into gloves to stretch and maintain their form.Some models featured articulated fingers and wrists, allowing for realistic display and effective stretching.
