15th Century Leather Purse (Belt Pouch)
by Cian of Storvik 1/08-6/09
Click on thumbnail for larger view.

I based this pouch on an image from Robert Campin's Announciation Tryptich (c1425). The kidney shaped purses like this are seen exclusively on men on period images. Not having an extant piece to work from, I guessed at the dimensions. The purse is made of vegetable tanned 1.5 oz. pigskin (usually used for lining and gloves) which was dyed with several applications of dark and medium brown dyes. The entire piece stitched with a waxed linen thread. The laten (bronze) purse weights were purchased from Raymond's Quiet Press as was the strap buckle.
In the center of each purse weight instead of the flag shaped pieces that Campin painted, I added secular pewter pendants; my personal badge (3 escallops from Billy and Charlie Pewters) and a unicornate seahorse (populace badge)


Dimensions: 8 1/4" w x 7 5/8" h