IT SEEMS THAT WHEREVER THE VIKINGS WENT THEY TOOK THE LOCAL STYLES OF ORNAMENT OR DRESS THAT APPEALED TO THEM AND THEN BROADCAST THEM THROUGHOUT THE VIKING WORLD.







IT IS A VERY PRACTICAL PURSE THAT LOOKS STRIKING AND SUITS THE COSTUME OF PEOPLE WHO RODE HORSES AS THEIR USUAL MEANS OF TRANSPORT. THE FREE CLASSES OF VIKING SOCIETY WOULD HAVE RIDDEN HORSES AS THEIR EVERYDAY TRANSPORT.
THE PURSE HANGS FREELY ON A STRAP , IS SECURE BUT DOES NOT HAMPER THE RIDER'S ACTIVITY OR MOVEMENTS.

WHAT MAKES A
RIDER'S PURSE ?

THE PURSE IS ALWAYS SMALL. JUST BIG ENOUGH TO ADMIT THREE OR FOUR FINGERS. IT WAS FOR KEEPING VALUABLE COINS, OR SACRED OBJECTS - NOT FOR JUMBLING IN EVERYTHING THAT MIGHT COME IN USEFUL AS WE DO WITH A HANDBAG THESE DAYS.
IN MODERN VIKING DRESS THE SIZE WHICH IS EQUIVALENT TO A PACKET OF CIGARETTES AND A LIGHTER MAY PROVE PRACTICAL TOO!
THE IMPRESSION THE PURSE MAKES IS BECAUSE OF ITS DECORATED COVER-FLAP. THIS WAS STUDDED WITH BRONZE OR SILVER RIVETS OR was LATER COVERED WITH A METAL PLATE WITH REPOUSSE AND CHASED DECORATION.

THE BASIC PURSE WAS OF LEATHER BUT COULD BE COVERED WITH LINEN, SILK OR METAL. THUS THEY COULD BE COLOURFUL AND REFLECT THE SUN - VERY EYE-CATCHING !
THE COVER-FLAP IS FIRMLY SECURED BY A STRAP WHICH IS ITSELF DECORATED WITH STUDS AND IS A CONTNUATION OF THE STRAP WHICH SUSPENDS THE PURSE FROM THE BELT.

SOME PURSES WERE CLOSED WITH A BUCKLE BUT MANY RELIED ON A SIMPLE ARRANGEMENT OF THE STRAP PASSING THROUGH AN 'EYE' OF LEATHER SEWN TO THE BAG AND EMERGING FROM A SLIT IN THE COVER FLAP.

HOW SHOULD I CHOOSE TO DECORATE MY PURSE ?

THE FOLLOWING FITTINGS ARE POSSIBLE:
CENTRAL PLATE WITH APERTURE

SOLID CENTRAL PLATE - THE COVER FLAP MUST BE SECURED AT THE EDGE OR UNDERSIDE
DECORATIVE COVER PLATES - 4 OR SIX IN SYMMETRICAL PATTERN AROUND THE CENTRE
EDGING STUDS - PLACED AT INTERVALS AROUND THE EDGE OF THE COVER FLAP
CLOSING STRAP PLATES - PLACED ALONG THE STRAP AND MAY BE EDGE TO EDGE
CLOSING STRAP STRAP-END

SUSPENSION STRAP MOUNTS

RETAINING LOOP FOR SUSPENSION STRAP
RETAINING LOOP FOR CLOSING STRAP


A WARRIOR MIGHT HAVE: A PURSE WITH SOME MOUNTS ON THE LID AND A STRAP-END.
A NOBLE MIGHT HAVE: A LINEN OR SILK-COVERED PURSE WITH MOUNTS ALSO ON THE STRAP AND FLAP EDGES
ROYALTY MIGHT HAVE: A SILK-COVERED PURSE WITH ALL POSSIBLE MOUNTS (OR A METAL COVER PLATE) AND THESE WOULD BE SILVER OR GILT.