Embroidered Gauntlets: 2

Four narrow biscuits with rounded ends laid on a dark wooden background. A golden vine curves up the centre of each ivory biscuit, sprouting colourful flowers and leaves. The flowers are piped in royal icing to look like the texture of embroidery. The ivory background of each background is spotted with small silver details that resemble metal sequins.

Biscuit (cookie) flavour: Based on a recipe for metheglin (flavoured mead), an ancient drink said to have been enjoyed by Elizabeth I. Ingredients include honey, lemon, rosemary & thyme.

Decoration: Royal icing base. All designs piped in royal icing by hand and embellished with edible lustres and vodka.

Context: Inspired by a pair of gloves in the collections of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. The gloves date from c.1600-1650; their embroidered cuffs (or ‘gauntlets’) are made of ivory silk satin, silk threads, metal threads, and spangles. You can see photographs of the original gloves here.