Antique Naturally Dyed Bolivian Nanaka Tunic, Poncho, Late 19th Century

A plains Indian roach “Headdress or Hair Ornament”. Custom display stand is included. Dimensions without stand measures 15 x 15 x 16 inches. Height with s...

Pair of antique Native American moccasins dating to the late Classic Period (1650-1875). Hand crafted by a Sioux, Plains Indian, arti...

Plains Tobacco bag, circa 1850-1880, native tanned elk or buckskin with a quill work panel with pictorial cross elements, trade beads along the opening and ...

Constructed of native tanned hide with trade beads and horse hair, this doll is wearing a traditional period dress and moccasins. A nomadic tribe, the Sioux territory included parts...

Antique 19th century Native American (Plains Indian) roach headdress made with dyed deer hair and porcupine guard hair on a u-shaped braided cloth with...

Antique Sioux (Native American/Plains Indian) Parfleche in a box form constructed of rawhide and intricately painted in an abstract design with hourglass and geometric motifs with natural pigments and red trade cloth. At the time this was created, the Sioux Indians were nomadic and are associated with vast areas of the Great Plains of the United States including present-day North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Montana. Authenticity is guaranteed. Box is in very good condition - please contact us for a detailed condition report. Parfleches are rawhide containers which were fundamental to the Plains way of life. Functioning essentially as protective travelling suitcases, they enabled the nomadic tribes to effectively pursue buffalo herds and migrate between seasonal camps. So critical were they to a nomadic existence that over 40 tribes are known to have historically produced parfleches. Collectively, these tribes inhabited an area which encompassed the entirety of the Plains, as well as the parts of the Southwest, the Transmontane and Western Plateau regions. Parfleches were, out of necessity, robust and versatile objects. They were designed to carry and protect within them anything from medicinal bundles to seasonal clothing or food. In fact, it was because of the containers’ robusticity and variety that parfleches earned their name in the Anglo world. Derived from parer (to parry or turn aside) and fleche (arrow), the word parfleche was coined by 17th century French Canadian voyageurs and used to describe indigenous objects made from rawhide. Despite their common utilitarian function, parfleches served as one of the major mediums through which Plains Indian tribes could develop their long-standing tradition of painting. In fact, it is in large part due to the parfleche that tribal style emerged. Even though parfleche painting developed simultaneously with beading and weaving, painting as an artistic tradition held particular importance in tribal culture. Believed to have evolved from tattooing, it had always been used as a conduit through which tribal and individual identity could be expressed. As such, many tribeswomen were deeply committed, some even religiously, to decorating their parfleche either with incised or painted motifs that were significant to them and/or the tribe. For some tribes, such as the Cheyenne, the decorative processes which surrounded parfleche production were sacred. For others, it seems that their parfleche designs shared an interesting artistic dialogue with their beadwork, indicating a more casual exchange of design motifs. This particular relationship can be seen in Crow parfleche...

Circa 1890 Navajo weaving with a very elegant and modern design. Nice mottling of the natural colors, especially in the reds. This is a very bold weaving. This weaving is in good as ...

Antique Kurdish Bagface Bag, Late 19th Century Additional information: Dimension: 1'9" L x 1'4" W Origin: Northwest Persia Period: Late 19th Century Rug ID: 19592

Antique Persian Afshar Bagface Bag, Late 19th Century This charming Afshar bag face uses rich saturated vegetable colors and soft glossy wool, with rows of alternating flowers and b...

Antique Persian Baluch Bagface Bag, Late 19th Century Additional information: Dimension: 2'6" W x 2'6" L Condition: Good, minor moth damage. Origin: Persia Period: Late 19th Centur...

Antique Persian Baluch Bagface Rug, Late 19th Century Additional information: Dimension: 2'9" W x 3'0" L Origin: Persia Period: Late 19th Century Condition: Good condition with a s...

Antique Persian Qashqai Bagface, Late 19th Century A colorful bag face with excellent color, the design is rather common. Its attributes include clarity of color and contrasting sha...