Jane Austen's World

Princess Charlotte's embroidered linen mittens

Among the fashion items in Kensington Palace are a pair of hand-embroidered mittens owned by Princess Charlotte, daughter of George 1V and Caroline of Brunswick  (the Princess Diana of her day) who died tragically young in 1817 while in childbirth. Read more: Mail Online

Silk 18th C. mittens. Image @Metropolitan Museum

Your average 18th century mitt would have a thumb (or rather half a thumb), but not have any other fingers. It would sometimes extend not just over the hand but over part of the fingers as well. This meant that it would keep you warm (or protected from the sun in the summer) but not hinder your movements at all. You could do things like write, draw or do needlework with mitts on. And combined with a muff, they were quite enough even for venturing outside in the winter.” – Mitts & Fingerless Gloves

18th century mittens. Image @Metropolitan Museum of Art

• Making 18th Century Mitts
• Lacy Mitt Gloves

Mrs. Bates and Miss Bates wearing lacy mitt gloves

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Posted in 19th Century England, Jane Austen's World, Regency Life, Regency World | Tagged 18th century mittens, 19th century mittens, Princess Charlotte, Regency Fashion | 15 Comments

15 Responses

1. on October 10, 2011 at 01:14 Caroline

   I love this era but the more ‘real’ details I learn (thank you) the more I realise how wonderfully easy our life is now in our heated homes and easy-care fabrics.

   
   
   • on October 10, 2011 at 21:24 Vic

     Agreed, though I must admit to wearing fingerless mittens in my cold office in the winter. My home office is located as far away from the furnace as is physically possible, and I keep my house temperatures low. My mittens allow me to use my keyboard and mouse while keeping most of my hands warm.

     
     
2. on October 10, 2011 at 01:53 Embroidered Mittens: Regency Fashion « Jane Austen's World | Todaystyleshow

   […] the original: Embroidered Mittens: Regency Fashion « Jane Austen's World […]

   
   
3. on October 10, 2011 at 02:13 Bethie

   This is wonderful! Just this afternoon my father was giving me odd looks for wearing my fingerless mitts. They’re knitted, and not quite as delicate looking as these, but I was seriously offended when he scoffed at them and said, “I don’t get these new styles.” I was almost positive they’re not a “new” fashion at all! I’m so excited to be proven right!

   Admittedly I’m feeling very smug right now. :P

   
   
   • on October 10, 2011 at 21:22 Vic

     So glad to help with a family discussion! :)

     
     
4. on October 10, 2011 at 13:57 lgilbert52

   Thank you, Vic! You always provide such interesting details. I especially love the blue ones-very elegant indeed!

   
   
   • on October 10, 2011 at 21:21 Vic

     I agree. I love those, and can imagine a Georgian lady wearing them near a fire place in winter – another layer to keep her warm.

     
     
5. on October 10, 2011 at 17:52 Grace Elliot

   Really interesting…but as well as these sort of mittens, in the regency they also had fingerless mittens (the sort we think of today) or are these a later development?

   
   
   • on October 10, 2011 at 21:20 Vic

     Grace, the last three images show fingerless mittens, which would allow a lady to do delicate work while keeping most of her hands out of the elements, or warm, whatever the purpose might be.

     
     
6. on October 10, 2011 at 20:02 Sally Michele Shaw

   I appreciate seeing these pictures of the mittens. Its nice when you read about something to now have a better idea to what it refers. I can’t imagine wearing something of this nature in summer time, but I know white hands were a big deal back then.
   Thanks for the post.

   
   
   • on October 10, 2011 at 21:20 Vic

     Princess Charlotte’s mittens look heavy to me, but the lace mittens worn by the Bates ladies would do nicely in hot weather!

     
     
7. on October 10, 2011 at 20:56 Teresa Thomas Bohannon

   Thanks for sharing both the pictures and the details. We all tend to have images of Regency fashions in mind, so coming face-to-face with the reality is always fun and interesting.

   
   
   • on October 10, 2011 at 21:26 Vic

     Thanks for stopping by Teresa. I searched high and low for some images of Regency ladies wearing mittens, but ran out of time. The fact is that they are out there, I just haven’t found the right combination of search words!

     
     
8. on October 11, 2011 at 23:44 Karen Field

   So these appear to be made of cotton or linen. Did they make these in kid leather, too?

   
   
   • on October 12, 2011 at 00:55 Vic

     Yes, all sorts of cloth, including lace, knitted mitts, etc. I was struck by the amateurish quality of the embroidery of Princess Charlotte’s mittens, and wonder if she embroidered them herself.

     
     

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