Are gloves period?

[Thaddeus G. Moore]

Would leather gloves be authentic? In the recent late roman helmet thread in the market place forum several reenactors were wearing very lightly coloured (deerskin?) unadorned gloves. Any evidence to support this? How about cold weather gear gloves or mittens?

- Thaddeus G. Moore

[Robert Vermaat]

Afaik, no!

[FAVENTIANVS]

Afaik?

[Matt Lukes]

As Far As I Know

[FAVENTIANVS]

Thanx Matt!!!

[ambrosius]

Would leather gloves be authentic? In the recent late roman helmet thread in the market place forum several reenactors were wearing very lightly coloured (deerskin?) unadorned gloves. Any evidence to support this? How about cold weather gear gloves or mittens?

- Thaddeus G. Moore

Hi Thaddeus,

That's a question I've always wanted to know the answer to, myself.
There may not be any direct evidence for it - and we wouldn't be
expecting to see any archaeological evidence if gloves were made
of leather/deerskin. But I'd be extremely surprised if gloves weren't
used at some point and in some climates (Britain, for one). :wink:

Ambrosius

[Gregg]

I don't believe there is any evidence for the use of gloves by the Romans, but the use of mittens seems to have been period. There are archeological examples of mittens from Iron Age Scandinavia and 1st century AD Tillya-tepe. Also, Pliny the Younger referrs to some kind of hand covering, though it's not clear if he means mittens or gloves

Gregg

[Matt Lukes]

I'd have a look at what the local people in the areas that the Romans were during times when gloves, mittens or whatever might be necessary- the Romans were never ones pass up a good idea...

Matt

[Conal]

what about socks with toes .... i may be going mad but i seem to remember this in relation to roman matters hock:

If there were "toed" socks thenwhy not gloves :?

[Robert Vermaat]

Well, mittens ans gloves aren't attested anyway. I've read somewhere (canm't remember where) that strips of fabric (wool?) were tied around the hands instead. Something like the 'boxing gloves' of the period, maybe?

If there were "toed" socks thenwhy not gloves?

There were socks with one toe, but mittens no.

If they had bags, why not pockets?

[Peroni]

I read somewhere, (I will have to find the reference) that mittens were used by agricultural workers.

I see no reason why, if it was a particularly cold winter, soldiers wouldn't cover their hands with something.

Regards

[floofthegoof]

I can't imagine that mittens weren't invented soon after man had a need for warm clothing.

[Conal]

I seem to remember seeing enclosed boxing gloves on a Greek vase ( or somethig !) ??

What about a tube of sheepskin with a thumb hole ?

[Praefectusclassis]

IIRC Greek boxers wore windings around their hands.

[Arrian]

It is very simple. In -20 degrees celsius your fingers will stick to any metal. Exposure for a few days will make your fingers unusable, and after some more time they will be dead. this is especially true with fingers and toes, because they have a high surface-to-blood-circulation ratio.
the mere fact that the romans spent months in winter conditions ( in the alps, scotland, tyrkey, dacia, germania and more) tells us that they must have had some kind of gloves or mittens, because they also pitched camps, made food and used tools while there. They would not be able too do this without working fingers.

Merely wrapping your hands with cloth will not work, because you need an enclosed space containing air to be warmed by your body heat in order too keep your fingers warm. I therefore believe that they must have had purpose-made hand-warmers.

the best material would probably be wool or fur. leather does not insulate as well.

-Magnus ( norwegian and therefore expert of all things cold and winter-warfare-related.) :wink: