PAIR OF EUROPEAN ETCHED AND GILT GAUNTLETS

19th century or earlier. Matching with rolled and roped edge and sunk borders cuffs in one piece. Six metacarpal plates, roped knuckle plates, hinged thumbs and articulated fingers. The edges pierced for attachment of doe skin gloves indicating that they were made to be used. Decorated throughout but for the finger plates, in addorsed serpents among foliage and baroque scrolling elements. The right gauntlet with considerable gold detail remaining. The left with remnants in the cuff border. Probably made for a noble guard unit, many of which were active, particularly in Italy through the 19th century.