Leather glove with attached gauntlet of white satin embroidered with coloured silks, metal thread and seed pearls. The embroidery design incorporates floral motifs and the phoenix rising from the flames. Trimmed with deep fringe of metal thread.
At this time the seam at the wrist (joining the leather glove to its embroidered silk gauntlet cuff) was often disguised by a band of ruched silk ribbon edged with metallic lace and spangles. The embroidery was usually carried out by professionals and the work is extremely skilled. The deliberately attenuated fingers were a fashion feature of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century when long, thin hands were admired. Queen Elizabeth I who was particularly proud of her narrow hands may have popularised this fashion.