This bag is made from C19th French hemp, and is a twin - almost identical - to bag XIII. The tightly-woven antique textile has a lovely, moody colour, best described as a deep drab. This was achieved by immersing the hemp in a walnut dye bath.
The bag’s front flap has been cut in a wonderful and 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 and 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 bag’s flap reveals the rest of the story or, rather, cautionary tale. Text and a date in the style of dissipating pipe smoke fill the front panel, and read: ‘Lost by Silas Bone, drover, 1812’. A genuine George III Halfpenny (dated 1799) - with the colour, feel and patina only two centuries below ground can impart - has been repurposed as a button to keep the flap secure. It was, appropriately, found in the fields of the West Country. Original embroidered initials - J B - survive on the inside flap.
The rear panel is left unprinted, as are the bottom and side panels. 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 berry-coloured stripes, chosen by us, complement the bag’s muted tones perfectly. The interior features a patch pocket for any small, treasured items - the pipe is emblazoned on this too. The story of Silas’ lost pipe, concocted by Cameron and tapped out on a typewriter, is pinned to the inside of the bag.
A lovely antique leather shoulder strap - repurposed from equestrian tack - is triple 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: 8cm
Artists - Cameron Short & Janet Tristram in collaboration with Rag of Colts.
The ‘Lost Bags’ - *keep your treasures safe*
