A pair of Sanquhar gloves, dated 1818
With 'G.F.' monogram, worked in a chevron pattern of pale blue and cream wool; together with a pair of Chinese shoes for bound feet; a knitted Middle Eastern cap and another similar. (6)
Saleroom notices
- Please note: It is now thought that these gloves may be of Yorkshire Dales or Cumbrian origin, rather than Sanquhar, as the pattern cannot be traced. The colours are more subtle than most Sanquhar examples.
'The Old Hand Knitters of the Dales' by Marie Hartley and Joan Ingilby discusses knitting in this area: 'For centuries, hand knitting was a way of life for the dalesfolk of Yorkshire and Cumbria. They knitted as they drove the cattle to the fields, as they walked to market, and as they gossiped and sang around the fire on winter evenings. The few pennies they earned from making stockings, jerseys, caps and bonnets were a vital source of extra income. Today little remains of the industry except the spinning galleries of old Westmorland and the carved wooden knitting sticks found in museums and private collections.'