Gloves Case By Pescott

A leather hide Gloves Case by George Pescott.

This is an unusual piece of luggage and may have been used by a travelling salesman. It is made in two parts with one sitting on top of the other and held by belt strap kept in position by a belt loop to the base. It has a fishtail handle fitted on brass loops and the construction of the whole is robust. A historic patch repair is stitched at the corner of one side. The interior is lined in Manchester ticking.

The details of 'Pescott Maker Manchester' is stamped to the leather on one side. A brass name plate engraved 'Gloves E. Wilson, 35 Church St. Manchester' is fixed to the opposite side to the Pescott stamp. Although there are a number of Church Streets in the Manchester suburbs and surrounding towns, this address is likely to the main one in the centre of the town. It is close to Market Street where the case was made. The merchants J & N Phillips & Co. were at this address from 1826 to 1886 and probably later, which includes the period the case was made. Their business was large and they manufactured all sorts of textiles, tapes and small wares. This probably included gloves. If Wilson worked for them as a salesman, it would be understandable that he wouldn't want the company name to be seen by his customers for fear that they cut out the middleman.

This is an interesting piece of leather luggage for both its size and the history of the maker and owner. For modern use, the size is a little bigger than a vinyl album sleeve cover and it could be used for record or document storage. Circa 1890.