Pilgrim Bottle / Water Bottle

Description of the Product

Throughout history, almost up to the present day, glass and metals have been expensive to manufacture and therefore used for rare luxury items. In the stone age the materials came form nature, and as well as horns, leather too was made use of. The first rudimental tanning process is mentioned in Assyrian texts, and they are also known to have used leather for liquid containers. Pilgrims used to carry drinking water in flattened globular containers made from leather or dried gourds, hung from a belt, hence the name “pilgrim bottle”. There are examples all through the middle ages of their continued use, even as recently as the 18th Century. There was regional variation on how high up in the social hierarchy leather bottles were used, however, but for example shephards and travellers found that this hardy and ancient method was hard to beat.

This item is made from natural leather, and its unadorned simple form makes it historically accurate for centuries of re-enactment. It will look at home, be it hanging from an outlaw’s shoulder, from a pilgrims waist or when sitting around a campfire, retelling the conquests of the day.

Due to handcrafting methods the bottle may have small marks on its surface, imperfections and will not be 100% homogeneous. Roughness and color may vary from piece to piece. The dying process uses traditional techniques, so the final colour may vary depending on leather´s original tone. As this water bottle has been made following traditional methods, it will eventually lose its sealing. We recommend you periodically seal it again: just pour melted natural beeswax inside the bottle, swirling in all directions to ensure it coats the bottle evenly. Pour any exess out and leave the wax to cool before use. Made by Marshal Historical
Bottle size approx. 20 x 24 cm. Holds approx. 9 dl.

You can see the flask also on this music video KORPIKLAANI -Ämmänhauta

Photo by: Anniina Sinisalo anskusinisalo.com.