I'm in the market for a pouch and someone recommended Boots by Bohemond. Now I know kidney pouches were common during the middle ages, but I was under the impression they didn't become common place until the 13th century and on. Since I'm doing an 11th cen Norman impression, I want to get a pouch that would be appropriate. I've been eyeballing the last three pouches on this site http://www.bootsbybohemond.net/index.php/shop-ii/purses-in-pieces
Anyone have any suggestions?
The book he references
Dress Accessories, from the Medieval Finds From Excavations in London series indicates that those leather purses with flap closures like that are more of a late medieval fashion.
The early examples of purses in that book are simple leather pouches with draw-string closures at the top. They also only date back to the 12th century (That book only goes as far back as 1150).
Could you wear a purse with a leather flap closure at DoK? Yes, and most people will be none-the-wiser, but if you want to be true to a Norman purse, those are probably a little fashion forward for the 11th century. The bottom one on Boots by Bohemond (the Berengaria pouch) could probably be modified to make it a little simpler. Or you could just make a simple draw-string pouch from some veg-tanned leather.
I own the Berengaria (my wife wears it), and the Bollock Purse, both are nice quality.
