Evening mitts

Art Historical Context

In the glittering social scenes of 1830s America, evening mitts like these were essential accessories for fashionable women attending balls and dinners. Crafted from delicate cotton and silk between 1830 and 1839 by an unknown American maker, these mitts extended from the hand to mid-forearm, offering a blend of elegance and practicality. They protected the voluminous puffed sleeves of the era's Romantic-style gowns from spills or snags while signaling refined taste. The use of silk—prized for its lustrous sheen and luxurious feel—elevated these mitts for evening wear, contrasting with everyday cotton gloves. This combination reflects the period's growing American textile industry, which increasingly incorporated fine imported silks alongside domestically produced cotton. As part of the Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection now at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, they highlight the National Society of Colonial Dames' efforts to preserve everyday artifacts of 19th-century life. These mitts offer a tactile glimpse into the etiquette of antebellum America, where accessories underscored social status and femininity. Delicately stitched and lightweight, they embody the era's emphasis on ornamentation amid rapid social change.