Leather Vessels

Blackjacks in 4mm harness butt, linen thread, sealed with brewer’s pitch. Paint is commercial gouache with added gum arabic binder. Volume 1.2L (about 1 quart/2 pints). Arms are The Honourable Artillery Company (left) and the Company of Prince Arthur’s Archers (right). The double embossed line around the spout dates these tightly to the 1640s, it was falling out of fashion around 1646.

These jugs were used as both serving and drinking vessels.

A gyspen is a smaller type of blackjack, with flat, tapering sides. The term only appears during the 16th and 17th centuries. It has similar styling with the small step down from the rim to the top of the triangular handle, but lacks the globular form of the larger type.

This example sealed with rosin and beeswax.

Costrel based on the MoL’s interpretation of a costrel (object number BC72[83]1996) found at Baynard Castle Dock. I’ve always had misgivings with the oval ends on this interpretation, other similar-sized costrels invariably have triangular ends.

4mm harness butt, linen thread, field maple stopper, sealed inside and out with beeswax.

My interpretation of MR costrel 81A0081, the zig-zag decoration was made with two punches, one the width of the gap between the ridges and the other the length of the diagonal. Stitch spacing is too close and regular. I had it figured out by the time I made the next one. Dimensions match the find, 4mm leather, linen thread, rosin and beeswax sealer.

My interpretation of MR 81A2034. Decoration is on both front and back, the small shield on the back has the letter “W” (really VV in 1545). The “VV” represents Mary’s monogram Virgo Virginium, and was commonly used for protection. This time I was able to copy the stitch holes from the original. The unusual arrangement of the stitching either side of the neck is original.

An interpretation of MR 81A5749. This is one of the transitional costrels from the wreck. The ribs of the medieval style are missing and the decoration is embossed, but it still retains the rectangular carrying holes that would later be replaced by round holes.

4mm leather, bitumen sealer, linen thread. Stitch holes in the same places as on the original.

My first costrel. This is a scale reconstruction of a massive 6-gallon (27.276 litre) costrel used to collect wine tax from ships in the 16th century. My one holds a couple of litres, roughly half a gallon. Made from 4mm harness butt, linen thread, sealed with rosin and beeswax. The stitch spacing is too small.

The decoration was worked into a mould from behind, then stamped around the outside.

A flacket is a type of leather flask or bottle made from only two pieces of leather, one for the front and one for the back. It has no base, but may additionally have a welt or gasket piece between the front and back. Depending on your cultural prejudices, these are sometimes also known as pumpkinseed- or pear-flasks.

This example is a dimensionally accurate interpretation of MR 81A2218. Awful photo, but it’s the only one I have of it finished.

This is my first attempt at interpreting a Mary Rose bucket. I chose 80A1946 because it had the best photographs and drawings available from the museum, but some features were taken from 81A1582 instead. The body is 4mm harness butt, bands and handle cover are 1mm veg tanned leather, wrought iron rings, sisal rope handle, copper rivet. Like the original, it’s sealed with Stockholm tar. I had about 10 years of semi-regular use from it before it needed to be resealed.

I’m making a more accurate version of 80A1946 for our forthcoming, Historical Replica Construction – Mary Rose: volume 1.