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 and its top edge is hand-rolled by the artist.
The bag is part lined with antique French hemp and red and black striped Irish linen, the latter woven in Wexford. It has two roomy interior pockets; one adorned with original cross-stitched initials: ‘MT’. The story of Silas’ lost pipe, concocted by Cameron and tapped out on an old typewriter, is pinned to the inside of the bag.
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 @ragofcolts.
Each ‘Lost Bag’ is unique.
Dimensions: Height - 64cm, Length - 46cm
Artists - Cameron Short & Janet Tristram in collaboration with Rag of Colts.
The ‘Lost Bags’ - *keep your treasures safe*
