Help with suede beaded gauntlets, Western show wear?

[Vmode]

Hi all,

I have these gorgeous suede gauntlets with handbeaded motifs in glass seed beads, and glass tubular beads on the fringing. Handstitched, with the gauntlet part lined in wool. I'm thinking they are Western 'show' wear, can anyone offer a date?

 

[Pinkcoke]

I'm getting a 40's/50's vibe from them. I wonder why the two middle fingers are suede backed? It looks like this was on purpose.

 

[Vmode]

I was thinking '40s. I have them posted in a group on Facebook and there is some differing opinion on the age, as they are still made today, but they have that 'feel' of older pieces.. you know how handling something makes the world of difference!
They are all-suede, with those two fingers in the contrast side- I think it might just be a design feature? I've been looking for similar examples online and haven't come across many if any other 'two tone' pieces. I can't imagine it affects the use much!

 

[Pinkcoke]

Bizarre as it sounds all I can think off is those are the two fingers you curl round the string a of bow in archery.

 

[Vmode]

It doesn't actually reinforce the fingers any, but I'm enjoying the mental image of various sports worn with these on ;)

 

[Vmode]

I came across these Crow beaded antique gauntlets, they're obviously older and native American examples, but feature the same kind of cobalt blue glass beads on the fringing.. The beads themselves don't have a 'modern' finish, each one differs slightly unlike industrially finished ones at least.

 

[Jonathan]

The big blue pony beads are actually different colours - the Crow gloves, which are probably 1930s-40s are darker, your pair looks newer to me - 70s-80s or newer. The colour contrast between the smoked surface and the white skin interior of the fringe on your pair looks very new. Also your pair is largely spot stitched - each bead sewn in place, rather than appliqué stitched which is more normal for Plains work. Your pair is good, and real, I think, just not terribly old.