These bags are based on a style of soft shoulder bag that are shown in a number of images from the 14th to the late 17th centuries and they are usually depicted being worn by lower class people such as soldiers and beggars. They are made from vegetable tanned calf skins and are stitched entirely by hand. They have a circle of leather stitched into the base which gives them a lot of room inside.

The bag is 13 inches wide and 28 long (33 x 71cm) and the circle at the bottom is 9 inches (22cm) in diameter

Detail from The Begger by Gerrit Dou 1654