#7234 $1,250 Reserved
Dated and named hand-knitted adult mittens, c.1837
Finding antique clothing with reliable dating and identification is very difficult. Most of the information we pass along is oral provenance only. These exceptional mittens have the name of the original owner and the date of construction incorporated into the design. The mittens were made for E. I. Chline in 1837.
These mittens from the Philadelphia area are also a rare example of everyday clothing from the period. Most utilitarian garments and accessories were worn until they died and were turned into cleaning rags. Special occasion silk garments were more likely to be carefully saved.
The mittens are hand knitted in red and navy wool with a pattern of alternating snowflakes and diamonds. The cuffs have ivory bands with the name and date in red. The thumbs are attached with a border of olive green wool.
The condition is very good. There are a few small mends. The cuffs have minor fraying.
The mittens are 9 1/4" long.
