This oven glove is made of heat-resistant silicone. The ribbed surface provides additional insulation and a good grip. The indentation in the middle makes it easy to hold hot baking trays and casserole dishes. The shape accommodates the movement of the hand rather than conforming to the negative profile of a hand with the thumb sticking out. The stretchy material means that one size fits all. Designer Xavier Costa came up with the idea for the glove in 2010-11 for Lékué. The Spanish firm places great emphasis on functional design for its products. Although silicone was developed in the early 20th century in England it was not until this century that there was such an immense increase in its use for kitchen utensils – ice-cube trays, baking molds, spatulas, and many similar items are often made of silicone today. The reason for this is that the chemical material is not considered to be a health hazard, it is flexible, and almost nothing sticks to its surface. Although silicone does not decompose easily, it can be used for a long time.