No Glove, No Love

From the Spence Collection at Bath.

Aren't these the most fantastic knitted mitts. I simply adore the pointed flap over the back of the hand. While the green mitts that I knitted myself are perfectly functional, I'd gladly trade them in for a pair that was even half as nice as these. Do you suppose if I started knitting them now, I'd have them finished by, oh, the tricentennial?

clipped from www.glovecollectioncatalogue.org A pair of ladies’ knitted mittens, probably Italian, early 18th century, unlined, knitted in silk/cotton mix in fine stocking stitch, with large carnation and pomegranate repeats in yellow, white and green on a pink lilac/ground, 37 cm long. Part of the Collection donated to the Livery in 1959 by the late Robert Spence. Conservation 1995 – 1999 sponsored by Past Master Margaret Linton.