{"title":"Home page","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"buttermarket-purse-6th-century","title":"Buttermarket Purse (6th century)","description":"\u003cp\u003eMy latest interpretation of a 6th Century purse, based on the copper-alloy fittings found at Buttermarket, held at Ipswich Museums, with a few additions!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe plates, D section bars, and buckle are all finds from the same assemblage, the length of rivet shanks suggesting that the purse had a wood cored lid, which I have reproduced here in ash. To me this also suggested a box like construction, with side gusset, for the body, rather than a flat bag.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI've made the piece from traditionally tanned calf skin, from Barrhead Leather, all hand sewn with linen thread, then waxed with animal fat, oil and beeswax mix. This Leather doesn't tool as easily as mass produced veg tan, so, instead I opted for cast Raptors, based on examples of 'shield mounts' held in the British Museum.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey, and the buckle, are hand cast by me, in a tin bronze with additional zinc in small quantities, giving a much more golden hue to the final cast. Areas have then been tinned, in order to create a more affordable version of the gold and silver gilt that we see on the originals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile the calf skin is around 2mm thick, it is also quite stretchy, which I've accounted for by sewing saddle stitched linen lines to the suspension loops and the straps for the buckle and strap end. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe strap end differs from the Buttermarket find, opting instead for a design found on various pieces, including bronze scrapers from Buckland. It is constructed of two thin sheets of copper-alloy, brazed together, as we see on many originals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart of the motivation for these deviations is that, while exact reproductions of singular finds are valid, having 20 purses all the same is an inaccuracy in its own right. I have therefore tried to bring in some limited element of creativity, based on original artifacts, to create an interpretation that fits within the style and culture of the Early Anglo-Saxon period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat means this is a one of a kind piece, and is unlikely to be reproduced exactly ever again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe belt loops take a 22mm wide strap, which is coincidently the size strap on the belt I have in stock, which is available for £230, should you want.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kroka Thurston's Workshop ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53632711065932,"sku":null,"price":375.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0981\/0316\/5260\/files\/FB_IMG_1760733304147.jpg?v=1760733791"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0981\/0316\/5260\/collections\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_59735827-6607-4e8a-a06d-9743b3526e66.jpg?v=1774698317","url":"https:\/\/krokathurston.myshopify.com\/collections\/frontpage.oembed","provider":"Kroka Thurston's Workshop ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}