Mitts

Art Historical Context

Step into the refined world of mid-19th-century Italian with these delicate silk *mitts*, crafted around 1850 by an unknown artist. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute and acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1926, these fingerless gloves exemplify the era's emphasis on graceful, practical elegance. Mitts like these were essential accessories for women, offering hand coverage while allowing fingers freedom for tasks like embroidery, piano playing, or social greetings—perfect for the bustling salons of Renaissance-influenced Italy. Silk, the mitts' luxurious medium, under...