Featured Embroidered gloves/gauntlets

I have just acquired this great pair of fringed gloves/gauntlets. Would I be right in thinking that they are Native American (or Canadian)? I just love the embroidery - the bear looks as though it is after honey from a tree trunk?
They are made from some sort of pale suede but are very grubby - any advice on how to clean them would be appreciated. They are lined in red velvet which is in good condition. I have no idea what sort of age they would be or if they would have been made for the tourist market?

 

Very interesting! A lot of showmanship in them.

 

Nice find Lucy-wish I'd been there 3 seconds earlier !

 

There are native American sites to help identify NA items. I have 3 items I am going to have looked at by the following site for $10 per item https://www.artifactgrading.com/appraisals/. I just have not gotten around to it yet. You could also be correct for Canada i suspect. I would not clean them personally. The "Grub" is consistent with use; horse reins would create that sort of staining. Whether old wear or modern ? I would look closely at the stitching of the glove itself. Does it look like machine or hand stitching? Cowboy Action Shooting is very popular around here as well as Rendezvous groups (pre1849) . I have been to the local Rendezvous trade fair and they sell reproductions often made in authentic way for those that dress for these affairs.

 

Haha - the early bird catches the worm! Seriously though, I consider myself lucky to have found them.

 

Thank you for the link to that site but as I am in the UK I think shipping costs would be prohibitive.
I've had a good look and there seems to be a combination of hand and machine stitching. I managed to turn one glove partially inside out and the side and finger stitching has been done by hand. The scallop stitching along the top edge is machined. The velvet lining has been partially slip-stitched by hand.
They have obviously been worn but are in good robust condition (apart from the grubbiness). I would love to know how they ended up in England!

 

Well, Buffalo Bill took his Wild West Show to England in around 1887, for starters.... might want to think about that!!! And that link that @Lark gave you does do internet appraisals for I think it said $10......might be worth checking out....if they'll do it from good images!!! They're well used and VERY COOL looking gloves!!!!

 

I wonder if the machine stitching came about as part of a repair? The ining is so pristine when compared to the gloves, I thought maybe the frayed edges and red lining might have been repaired more recently.

 

Look like newer parade gloves to me. No idea how old these are.

 

Yes, indeed it does - apologies to Lark for not reading it properly. I will investigate!
They are cool aren't they - love the idea that they may have come to England with Buffalo Bill!

 

if NA...I'd expect to see some beadwork....
they look like deer hide rather than moose...

 

View attachment 419720 View attachment 419721 View attachment 419722 Just came across these currently on ebay. They are very similar to mine but have beads on the stags' eyes. View attachment 419720 View attachment 419721 View attachment 419722 Cannot believe the price being asked - I paid nothing like that amount for mine!

 

My thoughts as well as Komokwa- I would expect some beading if NA. Maybe different in Canada.

 

I was skeptical about the lack of beads, too. But here are some examples from the collection of the American Museum of Natural History - gauntlets decorated with silk and cotton embroidery, with no beadwork.




GLOVES (PAIR)
NORTH AMERICAN ETHNOGRAPHIC COLLECTION

Catalog No: 50.1/ 7695 AB
Culture: BEAVER
Locale: BC, FORT SAINT JOHN
Country: CANADA
Material: HIDE, CLOTH, THREAD (SILK, COTTON)
Dimensions: A) L:30 W:18 H:4 B) L:31 W:18 H:2.5 (in CM)
Acquisition Year: 1914 [EXPEDITION]
Donor: GODDARD, PLINY E., DR.
Keywords: GLOVE
Category: COSTUME
https://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/databases/common/image_dup.cfm?catno=50.1/ 7695 AB




GLOVES (PAIR)
NORTH AMERICAN ETHNOGRAPHIC COLLECTION

Catalog No: 50.1/ 7706 AB
Culture: BEAVER
Locale: BC, FORT SAINT JOHN
Country: CANADA
Material: HIDE, CLOTH, THREAD (SILK, COTTON)
Dimensions: A) L:31 W:18 H:3 B) L:31.5 W:21 H:2.5 (in CM)
Acquisition Year: 1914 [EXPEDITION]
Donor: GODDARD, PLINY E., DR.
Keywords: GLOVE
Category: COSTUME
https://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/databases/common/image_dup.cfm?catno=50.1/ 7706 AB




GLOVES (PAIR)
NORTH AMERICAN ETHNOGRAPHIC COLLECTION

Catalog No: 50.2/ 944 AB
Locale: NWT, MACKENZIE RIVER
Country: CANADA
Material: HIDE, CLOTH, THREAD (SILK, COTTON), SINEW?
Dimensions: A) L:35.5 W:20 H:3 B) L:35.5 W:24.5 H:2 (in CM)
Acquisition Year: 1917 [PURCHASE]
Donor: THOMPSON, WILLIAM
Keywords: GLOVE
Category: COSTUME
https://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/databases/common/image_dup.cfm?catno=50.2/ 944 AB




GLOVES (PAIR)
NORTH AMERICAN ETHNOGRAPHIC COLLECTION

Catalog No: 50.2/ 5976 AB
Culture: SALISH, INTERIOR SALISH
Locale: BC?
Country: CANADA
Material: HIDE, THREAD (SILK), CLOTH
Dimensions: A) L:34 W:34 H:1.5 B) L:33.5 W:31.5 H:2 (in CM)
Acquisition Year: 1953 [GIFT]
Donor: AKHURST, HERMAN
Keywords: GLOVE
Category: COSTUME
https://anthro.amnh.org/anthropology/databases/common/image_dup.cfm?catno=50.2/ 5976 AB

 

I found what I think are those gauntlets that sold at auction for $260 back in 2019.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/72650566_70542-a-pair-of-plateau-pictorial-embroidered-hide-gau

 

Oh yes, that must be them - they have the same initials. The price has gone up a bit in three years! Wonder if anyone will actually pay what the seller is currently asking!

 

I doubt it.......
they are not that old....as those others 2mb has found..

 

Lovely! They look very much like the set of gloves that my sister inherited from my Great-Grandfather who immigrated to Montana in 1890. They were certainly Native made at the time... I'd send a photo if I had one.

Cheerio!
Leslie