Viking Hedeby bag with embroidery

Linen Haithabu bag with wooden chairback handles

The functional bag is based on archaeological discoveries from the Viking settlement of Haithabu (Hedeby), a key trading center in 8-11th centuries located near the Baltic Sea in present-day northern Germany. Situated along key trade routes connecting Scandinavia with Europe and beyond, Haithabu was a thriving hub of commerce and culture. The bag typically featured a pair of wooden frames, often made from oak or ash, with a textile (and possibly leather) pouch securely attached to them. The synergy of wooden panels and a rope handle stretched through secures the bag’s content from falling out – a must-have for everyday use by traders, craftsmen and settlers of Haithabu. The design appeared so successful that further into the Middle Ages, the images in Ibn Butlán’s “Tacuinum Sanitatis” still depict the same style bag.

We’ve launched this new line of Viking accessories with a solid ash wood frame only treated with oil to prevent it from elements and ensure durability. Vikings, however, used elaborate woodworking techniques to decorate the frame with carvings. Unlike pine wood, ash won’t graft and scratch your skin. The bag’s outer layer is made of durable flax linen, decorated with handmade embroidery with Wolf or Water dragon patterns to match your existing Viking outfits by ArmStreet. The straps on the top edge of the Hedeby bag are looped around the holes in a “chairback” handle and decorated with hand stitching. You can easily adjust the hemp rope handle with simple knots according to your height and preferences. As soon as you put on the bag, the rope handle tightly closes the bag opening by pulling together two parts of the wooden frame to keep all your valuables secured no matter how active your medieval routine is. A natural color full lining provides your belongings with extra protection.

The search for the perfect balance between beauty and practicality in modern terms often distances our creations from the original historical finds. The Hedeby bag, though, features an incredible combination of style and utility and is a true gem to add to our collection of Viking accessories.

Please contact us if you have any additional questions.