Willard M. Smith’s Gloves, Past and Present traces the history of the glove from antiquity to the modern trade, surveying its uses in ceremony, fashion, and daily life. The book follows the glove’s many meanings, from symbol of rank and challenge to indispensable accessory, alongside an account of how gloves were made.
Written with an eye to both history and the contemporary industry, it documents materials, techniques, and the etiquette that surrounded glove-wearing. Smith preserves the lore of a once-essential garment. For historians of accessories and trade, this engaging study is available here as a free EPUB download.