This bag, constructed from antique herringbone hemp, is strong. The textile, woven in C19th France, is natural in colour - light brown with subtle tonal variations. The bag’s front flap has been cut in a highly unusual ogee shape - the inspiration for it, the door on our rustic C18th longcase clock. A vertical, handmade buttonhole sits just above the point of the ogee.
Adorning the flap is an image and text, both block-printed in black linseed ink. The image is that of drover Silas Bone’s lost clay pipe - its bowl fashioned in the shape of a man’s head with his initials inscribed at the base of the stem. Beneath the pipe, rendered in lovely, old Copperplate, are the words: ‘he trod heavily thereafter’.
Lifting the flap reveals the rest of the story. Text and a date in the style of dissipating pipe smoke fill the front panel, and read: ‘Lost by Silas Bone, drover, 1812’. A lovely, antique 2 Sols coin (Louis XVI, dated 1792) - with the colour, feel and patina only two centuries below ground can impart - has been repurposed as a button to keep the bag’s flap secure.
The rear panel is left unprinted, as are the bottom and side panels. However, original stencilled text, now faded, can be seen on the inside of the flap, on one side panel and on the bottom panel too. All edges are hand-rolled and hand-stitched.
The bag is lined in striped linen, specially commissioned for this project and woven in Wexford, Ireland. Contrasting dark blue grey and paler blue grey stripes, chosen by us, complement the bag’s natural colour beautifully. The interior also has a patch pocket for any small, treasured items. The story of Silas’ lost pipe, concocted by Cameron and tapped out on a typewriter, is pinned to the inside of the bag.
A robust antique leather shoulder strap - repurposed from equestrian tack - is securely stitched to the bag, and boasts its original swage brass buckle. Leatherwork was sourced, restored and expertly hand-stitched using waxed linen thread by the wonderful @ragofcolts.
Finally, for protection and to give the desired sculptural feel, the bag was gently brushed with traditional rabbit skin glue.
Each ‘Lost Bag’ is unique.
Dimensions - Height: 42cm Length: 49cm Depth: 9cm
Artists - Cameron Short & Janet Tristram in collaboration with Rag of Colts.
The ‘Lost Bags’ - *keep your treasures safe*
