This large bag, originating from a C19th grain sack, is extremely strong. Its front and back, in a natural straw colour, are cut from tightly woven hemp.
On the bag’s front, block-printed in black, is the image 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. A tendril of smoke emerges from it, morphing into text in the style of dissipating pipe smoke. It reads: ‘Lost by Silas Bone, drover, 1812’.
Beneath the pipe, again block-printed in black, are the words: ‘he trod heavily thereafter’. Two paler hemp patches - the larger near the bottom, the smaller near the top - add texture and interest.
The reverse of the bag is left unprinted.
The bag is part lined with antique French hemp and red and black striped Irish linen. It has two roomy interior pockets; one adorned with original cross-stitched initials: ‘MT’. The story of Silas’ lost pipe, hand-written by the artist on a piece of pale blue shot silk, is hand-sewn into the bag.
The bag’s top edge is hand-rolled by the artist.
A lovely, wide antique leather shoulder strap - repurposed from equestrian tack - is securely stitched to the bag. Leatherwork was sourced, restored and expertly hand-stitched using waxed linen thread by the wonderful Caroline Strecker @ragofcolts.
Dimensions: Height - 64cm, Length - 46cm
Artists - Cameron Short & Janet Tristram in collaboration with leatherworker, Caroline Strecker.
The ‘Lost Bags’ - keep your treasures safe.
EACH ‘LOST BAG’ IS UNIQUE.
