Main Menu - Misc. - Clothing/Textiles - Medieval Wales - Names - Other Medieval - Publications - Harpy Publications


This page last modified May 22, 2005

Shepherds Purse: Types - Strongly Shaped Pouches (especially with flaps)

Return to main page

While the "crescent" form of purse exists in a continuum from examples that may actually be sashes with contents rolled up in them, to examples that clearly have a "pouch" section that is gathered into a "belt" section, the group of artifacts considered in this part are all clearly "cut and sewn" in some fashion. On the one end, they merge into the crescent style, where the "flap" may have evolved from the loose edge of a roll of fabric. On the other end, they bear a strong similarity to the deeper style of "pilgrim's pouch" covered in my "Non Shepherds Purse styles" section. The dividing line on that end is largely one of stylistic "gestalt" -- does the artifact look more like a crescent-shaped pouch with a flap, or does it look like "shoulder-bag" style that happens to be worn around the waist?

Flapped purses with no tools

Flap has a decorative scalloped edge

Until I inserted the figures in this section, I hadn't noticed how similar the pairs of pouches and their arrangement are. The similarity extends only to the pouches themselves -- the overall scenes are entirely different. But it raises the nagging question of whether the artists were working in some manner from the same template.

Le Livre des Faits et Gestes

Simon Marmion Hours

Pouch section clearly shows gathering, flap is fastened with buttons

Both of these examples have very interesting construction details which will be discussed more thoroughly in that section. Note that the "shaped" feature that defines this stylistic group involves some very different structures.

Da Costa Hours

Stockholm-Kessel Book of Hours

Flap, but no other interesting features

Bibliotheque de l'Arsenal Paris MS 438

Repas Champetre (tapestry)

Le Livre des Faits et Gestes

scenes of hunting (tapestry)

Shaped pouches with flaps and hanging objects

See the section on Attached Objects for a specific discussion of these. As in the crescent-shaped group, the pouches involved here are of the same types as those found without attached objects.

Objects are attached by unclear method

Le Livre des Faits et Gestes

Objects are on rings attached to the pouch

Rustic Sports (tapestry)

The Noble Pastoral (tapestry)

Objects are on rings attached to the belt

Repas Champetre (tapestry)

scenes of childhood/annunciation


Previous --------------------------------------------- Main --------------------------------------------- Next

 


This site belongs to Heather Rose Jones. Contact me regarding anything beyond personal, individual use of this material.

Unless otherwise noted, all contents are copyright by Heather Rose Jones, all rights reserved.