Hedeby bag “Tapestry of War”

Ukrainian War memorabilia cotton Viking bag

The Hedeby bag is one of the archaeological discoveries from the Viking settlement of Haithabu (now Hedeby), a busy trading center from the 8th to 11th centuries located near the Baltic Sea in present-day northern Germany. Situated along major trade routes connecting Old Norse with Europe, Haithabu was a thriving hub of commerce and culture. A rope handle threaded through the wooden panels ensured the bag’s contents stayed in place, making it an essential everyday accessory for traders and craftsmen. However, the Haithabu bag’s design proved so effective that it continued to be used for centuries. Similar bags are depicted in illustrations from the later Middle Ages, such as those in Ibn Butlán’s Tacuinum Sanitatis. Even nowadays, LARPers and SCAdians use bags of the type at medieval events. It is a perfect solution for those always on the run (literally) who want their phone, wallet, and other small belongings to be secured from falling out.

The bag typically featured a pair of wooden frames, often made from oak or ash, with a textile (and possibly leather) pouch securely attached. How exactly does it work? Two parts of the wooden frame squeeze the bag’s opening every time the shoulder strap pulls up. This cotton bag features tube-like textile part, folded in half and divided into two independent compartments with the seam at the bottom.

Though simple in form, this Viking bag is a canvas for self-expression: you can decorate the dark wooden “chairback” frame with carvings or put something significant on the textile. That’s how our renowned “Tapestry of War” inspired by 11th-century Bayeux Tapestry became part of the first set of Hedeby bags by ArmStreet. The most crucial topic for any Ukrainian nowadays, it captures the most poignant moments of the war’s onset: tractor towing tank, a bombed theater in Mariupol, the warship saying, and people fleeing war. Packed with meaningful details, the chronicle is divided into two parts, ensuring the bag is informative and looks nice from every angle.

Please contact us if you have any additional questions.