[nb-NO]Object number[nb-NO]
60/559/1-2
[nb-NO]Description[nb-NO]
This pair of hedging gloves is part of a large collection of traditional craft products acquired from the British Council in 1960. They were supplied by D. L. Ellis of Hereford circa 1945–6, and were probably made around that time. Each glove is made from three pieces of thick yellow leather (one of the palm, one for the back, and one for the thumb) stitched together by hand. Hedging gloves were worn by hedgelayers to protect the hands.
<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 82.75pt 0pt 0cm; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><FONT face=Calibri>Enclosing and controlling // Boundaries and access points play a vital role in the history of rural England. Fencing meant land could be enclosed and the rights of people and animals managed more easily. Hedge slashers, hedging gloves, and (full-size) hurdles and gates all played their part in this process of control. // Across the British Empire land was routinely taken from local populations. These processes were enforced by marking parcels of land on maps and by the introduction of physical barriers and controls. // <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">MERL 60/524, 60/559/1-2, 68/100, 79/14</I></FONT><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
[nb-NO]Archival history[nb-NO]
MERL miscellaneous note, B. L. 22 March 1961 – ‘The British Council collection. // This collection of material which is covered by the accession numbers 60/430 to 60/791 contains examples of craft products made in the British Isles. The major part of the collection was prepared immediately after the Second World War for a travelling exhibition which was sent to Australia and New Zealand. // The collection was purchased for a nominal sum by the Museum in two portions, the one in the summer of 1960 and the other in February 1961. // For further details see the individual catalogue cards and the catalogue prepared for the temporary exhibition of the collection.’, MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘Each glove in this pair is made from three pieces of thick yellow leather, one for the palm, one for the back, and one for the thumb. They are stitched by hand. They measure 11 inches from the fingertip to cuff edge, and 6 1/2 inches across the palm side at the cuff edge. // From: D.L. Ellis, 9 Commercial Street, Hereford.’, British Council ‘Exhibition of Rural Handicrafts from Great Britain’ Exhibition Catalogue, 1946, ‘Introductory Note’ – ‘This exhibition contains only examples of handicrafts that are still being practised in the British Countryside. It is confined to the work of our traditional craftsmen and women who, with very few exceptions, would not think of themselves as artists or designers but whose work, nevertheless, so greatly enriches the daily life of those who live with and use their products. The work of these craftsmen, too, provides the basis from which many artist-craftsmen gain technical knowledge and inspiration. // Included with these rural crafts are eight screens showing handicraft processes which can be undertaken by schools or adults who wish to practise a craft at home. In this way we hope these examples of Britain’s country crafts may be related to a practical aspect of present day life in the Dominions and meet the increasing need to find satisfying ways of using the leisure which machinery now makes available to us. // Along with her traditional rural crafts Great Britain seeks to employ all the resources of modern agricultural science and engineering. We have therefore included with this exhibition some photographs showing examples of recent developments in agricultural machinery.’, British Council ‘Exhibition of Rural Handicrafts from Great Britain’ Exhibition Catalogue, 1946, ‘Screen N. Welsh Dairy and Cooking Spoons', p.18., British Council ‘Exhibition of Rural Handicrafts from Great Britain’ Exhibition Catalogue, 1946, p.19 – 'N.15. Pair of hedging gloves. D. L. Ellis, Hereford.', British Council Ref. No. NZ N15.
[nb-NO]Date[nb-NO]
1945 - 1946
[nb-NO]Object name[nb-NO]
[nb-NO]External document[nb-NO]
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_3937.tif - High resolution image