Saddlebag

Object Name:

Saddlebag

Object ID:

1994.018

Place of Origin:

Northwood, NH/Loudon, NH/Gilmanton, NH

Date:

1785-1816

Description:

Saddlebag. Originally owned and used by Dr. Benjamin Kelly (1763-1839), Northwood, NH; 1785-1816. Two dark brown leather saddle bags, connected by leather strap. The two bags are identical soft rectangular pouches; each measures 12" long, 9" high, 2.8" deep. Top flap on each pouch has two wrought iron buckle closures. Thin leather ties at top corners of each pouch. Each bag made from piece of leather that constitutes back and bottom surface. Another piece of leather sewn to back along sides. Back piece of leather folded over and sewn through the two exterior vertical edges of bag. Bottom seam that runs from left to right side and across bottom front edge is sewn inside bag. Another piece of leather that makes top flap of bag is sewn across top to back piece of leather with connecting band between edges. Top flap has rounded corner at each side; slight drop point at front center of cover edge; creates slight scalloped edge. Two 0.5" wide straps pass through slots in cover and are sewn in place through front surface. Bottom ends of straps rounded. Straps ~8" long on outside. Each strap has four holes; straps pass through rectangular iron buckle with iron tongue. Small decorative crease inside corners in buckles. Buckles sewn into short strap that is sewn into front surface of each bag on each side. Strap ~1.8" high, 1.3" wide. Overall length including buckle: 2.5". Decorative triangular cutout on front surface of each buckle strap. Short lengths of leather thong on back side in upper right and left corners ~3" long. On one bag these have tapered ends. One bag missing thongs. One set of thongs made of one length of leather, but are two small pointed straps extending from back surface. Thongs pass through sides of bag a couple times. These may serve purpose of tightening bag sides at top. Top edge of bag body turned over and sewn to create rolled edge. Surface of bags appear to have decorative shallow creases across body near bottom edge and perhaps just behind buckles.

Material:

Leather
Iron

Dimensions:

H-9 W-11.7 L-33.6 D-2.8 inches

Provenance:

Originally used by Dr. Benjamin Kelly (1763-1839) of Northwood, Loudon, and Gilmanton. Descended to his great-great -grandson, Donald P. Kelley (1922-2008), the donor.

People:

Kelly, Benjamin (1763-1839), Kelley, Donald P. (1922-2008)

Subjects:

Bags, Medical, Saddle Bags