Pouch with Tooled Flap

Early Medieval Leather Pouch with Tooled Flap and Antler Button

Historical Context and Usage of the Pouch

During the Early and High Middle Ages, when clothing such as tunics or hosen completely lacked pockets, a leather pouch suspended from a belt was an absolute necessity. Merchants and traders used it to carry valuables, minted coins, flint and steel with tinder, and personal seals. This model stands out with its more voluminous cut and a massive top suspension loop, through which a standard historical belt is easily threaded. Today, this pouch will serve you perfectly for the safe and discreet storage of modern essentials, such as keys, a wallet, or a mobile phone, without disrupting the authentic appearance of your period garb.

Care for Leather Gear and Antler Material

Smooth cowhide is an exceptionally durable natural material that, with proper care, will reward you with many years of reliable service. We recommend treating the pouch at least twice a year with a high-quality, colourless leather balm, ideally one containing beeswax. The balm deeply nourishes the leather, keeps it supple, and protects it from rain. If your bag gets wet at an event, never dry it near an open fire or on a hot radiator—the leather would harden and crack. Let it air dry naturally at room temperature. The fastening button is made of genuine natural antler. Minor variations in the colour and surface texture of both the leather and the antler are natural characteristics of these handcrafted materials and form their unique character.

Important Safety Warnings

This pouch is intended as a historical clothing accessory for carrying light personal items. Never overload it with extremely heavy objects (e.g., lead musket balls or a large quantity of stones), which could result in the suspension loop tearing out. Never machine wash or tumble dry a product made of genuine leather and antler, as this would cause irreversible damage and total destruction.

Recommended Costume Accessories

To stylishly suspend this merchant's pouch, we highly recommend acquiring a sturdy medieval leather belt with a brass or iron buckle, along with an authentic linen coin purse to help organise small change inside the bag.

Technical Specifications of the Pouch