This bag, with a front flap, is constructed from antique French linen - it’s robust. The textile, woven in the C19th, has a gorgeous mustard tone. This has been conjured alchemically - by immersing the linen in natural dye baths of birchwood, walnut and weld. Once cured, the textile was over-printed with linseed ink.
On the front flap, block-printed in black, are the words: ‘LOST BY DIGORY ISBELL, road to St Just’. A pair of antique leather straps, hand-stitched to the flap, create weight, beauty and balance.
Beneath the flap, in black, are an image and more text. The words read: ‘1765, his eyes did wet the ground’. The image, a coin-like rebus-inspired talisman, has had its surface inscribed. We see the letter ‘F’ beside the image of an ear, then a knotted rope, then the letter ‘M’ beside the image of an eye, then a sun. Thus, it ‘reads’: FEAR NOT MY SON. The dots above the ‘i’ in ‘his’ and the ‘i’ in ‘did’ take the form of teardrops.
Original darning, very wabi-sabi in feeling, is present on the inside flap - this only adds to the bag’s beauty. The rear and side panels are unprinted. All edges are faced with a rolled, hand-stitched hem.
The bag is lined in striped linen, specially commissioned for this project and woven in Wexford, Ireland. Contrasting dark blue and paler blue stripes, chosen by us, complement the bag’s rich colour beautifully. The piece has an internal patch pocket for any small, treasured items. The story of Digory’s lost talisman, concocted by Cameron and tapped out on a typewriter, is pinned to the inside of the bag.
The bag has a lovely antique strap - repurposed from equestrian tack - with its original swage brass buckle. It is adjustable. 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: 44cm Length: 50cm Depth: 7cm
Artists - Cameron Short & Janet Tristram in collaboration with Rag of Colts.
The ‘Lost Bags’ - *keep your treasures safe*
