Join us for a museum talk with Hannah Marples, Historic Costumer and Museum Coordinator as she demystifies a pair of 17th century mittens.
These black silk mittens are part of our temporary museum display about Charles I’s execution, they are said to have been worn the King on the scaffold. However Hannah’s careful investigation of the mittens suggests otherwise.
Hannah will reveal how she analysed and documented the mittens through a process of ‘slow looking’, delving into silks, stitching and seams. You will learn more about 17th century mittens as fashion and status symbols, and understand why Hannah doesn’t believe these gloves were worn by Charles I.
Charles I Execution Objects at the Harley Museum.
Hannah Marples
Hannah’s passions lie within historical costume, embroideries, and tech. She has made historical costumes for film, TV and museums which include The National Civil War Museum and Leeds Royal Armouries. She has appeared in the BBC4 television series A Stitch in Time and is currently undertaking an MRes in Ornate Hands: A Study of Early 17th Century Embroidered Gloves, Gauntlets and Mittens.
Hannah undertakes costume commissions, digitizes patterns for The Tudor Tailor books (The Typical Tudor and The King’s Servants), and also sells her printed fabrics and historically inspired textiles and embroideries on Etsy.
She is a Museum Coordinator at the Harley Foundation and has been a tour guide on the Welbeck Abbey State Room Tours.
