Name/Title
Pair of gloves (funeral gloves), New England, 1750-70Entry/Object ID
884Description
An exceptionally rare example of eighteenth-century mourning gloves, this pair came with the following history: "These gloves were owned by Benjamin Fernald of Kittery, Maine who died about 1770. They were presented to him for acting as pall bearer.“ Like gold rings, gloves were often given to officiants at funerals in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but very few American examples are known. The Fernald in question may have been born in Kittery on June 27, 1721, and married his wife Sarah in 1746. He, however, did not die until 1798, later than the traditional history suggests.
Pair of off-white leather funeral gloves. Gloves were presented to Benjamin Fernald for acting as a pall bearer. Extremely rare pair of funeral gloves. Inscription on inside of each glove (some of it is illegible). Right glove's inscription: "... by Benjamin Fernald of Kittery who died in about the year 1778." Left glove's inscription: "Presented to him ... acting as a pall bearer."
Old label reads: "These gloves were owned by Benjamin Fernald of Kittery, Maine who died about 1770. They were presented to him for acting as pall bearer."Collection
Portsmouth Historical Society Curatorial CollectionAcquisition
Accession
884Acquisition Method
UnknownMade/Created
Date made
circa 1770Notes
Date: bef. 1770Dimensions
Width
4-1/4 inLength
11-1/4 in
