Der Handschuh

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An overview of the historical range and diversity of functions of the glove. Twenty short texts explain the garment in its development and abundance. (Re)discover the glove as an old and new accessory. The Glove traces the varied cultural history of an accessory whose importance is often underestimated. The sheer diversity of this article of clothing is demonstrated by means of selected exhibits, from warming Inuit mittens, boxing gloves, disposable rubber or latex gloves, and Pontifical gloves, to models by renowned designers such as Marc Jacobs and Dries Van Noten. As a love token, a gauntlet in a duel, or as the insignia of royalty, this highly symbolic accessory and firm component of first courtly, then bourgeois etiquette looks back on a longstanding tradition. Gloves, for centuries an indispensable part of any elegant wardrobe, are currently experiencing a comeback.