By THL Kai SaerPren (please call me “K”)
The existence of the claps and what they were used for seems to have no debate. And since I agree with the consensus I will not speak more on it.
But the reconstructions of the bags that I have seen is vastly awry from the evidence that I have seen.
Thus I propose to lightly review some of the easily accessed evidence. And to propose a construction method that creates the desired results.
Since I do not wish to slander or belittle honest makers who’ve fallen foul of a common mistake, I’ll not be providing images of their works. They’ve done their best, which I hope will be better after this gets published.
My first objection to many current recreations is that they open up about 1″ wide.
My hand is nearly 1¼” thick. While yours may be thinner, once you’ve grabbed your wallet you are like the monkey with the orange in the jar…
Let’s look at some period images of bags with claps gleaned from the internet. (some of the claps seem to be sewn into the fabric, but there is definitely some sort of stiffening there.)
Bag used by a soldier. notice he’s got a bottle, and a piece of bread sticking out the top of it. That’s probably his daily rations so he can eat whenever and wherever he finds convenient. You can see at least one grommet hole. and what looks like a string (black) to perhaps fix a cover flap over it?
Bag with peas, this has all of the grommets.
bag hanging from a tree. You can see multiple pleats caused by snugging up the rope through the grommet holes.
person putting a fish in a bag. I can’t discern either grommet holes or pleats, but the opening has to be large enough to reach in and get the fish out. Since everything else in the image is simplified, the artist may have just left those details out.
a bag nearly identical to the previous bag having something placed in it. Is there something in there to stiffen the bottoms with on these two? a hoop or a disc?
a huntsman(?) using a large bag with claps for carrying game home or to market.
One of the most common features that I don’t see on new reproductions is the grommets! And of course the pleats, but I believe that the grommets cause the pleats so the pleats aren’t part of the construction.
Secondly, because the pleats don’t allow the claps to fully close, I propose these bags were for carrying non valuables. Like your lunch. Or your daily food shopping. But not your money!
Further: I conclude that these bags were inexpensive and utilitarian.
Lets look at a couple of examples from persons whom I think “got it right”.
this bag from Medieval Marketplace SPES, where you can see how the thin claps are sewn on and how the rope is just punched through the thick felt. Making for a nice wide opening.
The Peri Peris website uses this sketch where you can see the claps and how they attach to the bag, it’s a bit hard to see the grommets and pleats but I can just make them out.
You could make this with a rectangle of cloth and fan shaped pieces on either side.
Or even easier: out of one round scrap of fabric.
The easiest sack is a round piece of cloth, with a string run through the hem around the edge. Change that by adding the claps and running the string through holes in the fabric…
So if I wanted a bag with 9″ claps, and 9″ deep. I’ll want a circle @ 20″ in diameter. Sew a 1″ seam all around the edge to make an 18″ disc. Attach the claps opposite each other. Create grommet holes (equal in #) between the claps. Lace a rope through the holes leaving it long enough to be a shoulder strap.
Aaaand you’re done! Bobs your uncle, surely Snori Stronginthearm is my uncle….
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