Download GLOVES: a symbol of power in the image of lifestyle

GLOVES: a symbol of power in the image of lifestyle.
Even more of a tie, the presence of the gloves is constant in human life and in his
imagination, since the dawn of the civil society.
Already in use by the Egyptians and in some parts of Asia, and from there arrived among
the Greeks and Romans, the gloves were rarely used for its elegance and more often as a
symbolic tool to load messages.
Symbol of investiture, a sign of domination, recognition of assignment and credential for
emperors, kings, bishops, ambassadors, are examples of the discoveries in the tombs of
the pharaohs, the fresco depicting ancient Thebes stored at the delivery of a glove as the
king credential, the statue of Gregory the Great, who was elected Pope in 590 AD and the
hero of the Chanson de Roland, and dying repentant, offers to God the glove of his right
hand to heaven levandolo.
Still in the 'news of the eleventh century are magnificent pair of gloves, packed in Palermo
and embroidered, woven with gold foil to William the Norman, a legacy passed to Henry IV
and then used for the coronation of the Holy Roman Empire in the period .
In the Middle Ages, the glove is part of the rite of investiture feudal signal of defiance or
contempt if thrown or slammed to the ground, but also a sign of confidence in women to
whom was given, among other things, gloves, first women appear in the ninth century, silk
or wool, or closed by three buttons with a large flap lined with fur.
In the thirteenth century, the glove comes into common usage and the Italian glove quickly
became renowned for its flair and taste of the ornaments and tanned skins with perfumed
essences or even sometimes with the poison.
For two centuries perfumed gloves are the prerogative of the noble classes and the glove
is also a perfumer, as still happens in France, the acquisition of the diploma. At that time,
highlights the superb painting by Titian, representing an unknown gentleman who fits a
single glove, holding the other in the hand fit.
I would still remember the sad royal gesture of Conradin of Swabia, who, before being
beheaded, he threw his glove to the crowd that was delivered to Peter of Aragon, as the
investiture of the right of succession to the kingdom of Naples.
So for many years remains the glove image of wealth and power of the noble classes, the
ecclesiastical dignitaries of both East and West, competing with each other in enrichment
and decoration, adding notches to show rings or inserts of rare and valuable fur "épater
pour les bourgeois."
The long gloves and transparent to see the arms of women at the time of the Directory,
clearly give a picture of a world that wants to change. And so after the Restoration, then in
half 800, the middle class as they seized power, we have the yellow gloves and white
men's day in the evening, the glove for women is short, and is of filet in mezzedita also
brought into the house.
At the beginning of 900 gloves take on the connotation of protection from cold, unwanted
contact of bare skin in greeting, in accordance with a precise label, all under the auspices
of a company from public behavior impeccable, "political correctness" .
And even if the story of my family in the glove begins in about 1870 (actually not very clear
from the activity of the transition to the glove manufacturers of carriages for the noble, if
not a journey of Nicholas, the brother of my grandfather, University of Grenoble undisputed
glove), is around 1920 that states with a strong brand Merola, with a factory, tannery, and
11 stores in Italy.
There were fifteen, twenty years of great luster, even if the crisis of 1929, autarky, the
infamous '90 quota and the winds of war were gathering on the horizon, undermined the
production, export and sale of gloves . Of so little strength remained to the end of World
War 2.
Despite the many hardships historical succession and family over the years, the company
is still present on the national and international markets characterized by the commitment
and passion for the "handmade Italian", the true vocation of the family
It shows how easily the glove accompanies the evolution of fashion and taste, taking the
need for change in the way of life of society. Among the many nice complements the
dress, once absolutely required as the stick and hat for the man and the umbrella, the
spectrum and the sleeve for the woman, only partially resistant glove and promptly recurs
adapting to the times and to fashion.
How can we forget the long gloves of fiery Rita Hayworth in "Gilda" or very short ones
worn by the lovely Andrey Hepburn in "Roman Holiday"?
Of course now the gloves, such as neckties, are no longer an essential element of the
dress, but for many of us have been an object handy, useful, pleasant part of our lives, is
in the DNA of our Western cultural education, which is transmitted from generation to
generation.
And to remain very much alive for a long time in this golden niche and well attended, and I
hope that the gloves, and to me, for the third millennium.
Albert Merola
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