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Native American Parfleche

Antique Plateau Parfleche Envelope c.1870 Native American Painted Rawhide
Antique Plateau Parfleche Envelope c.1870 Native American Painted Rawhide

Antique Plateau Parfleche Envelope c.1870 Native American Painted Rawhide

By Plateau Indians

Located in Denver, CO

This exceptional 19th-century Plateau parfleche envelope, dating to circa 1870, is a rare and visually striking example of Native American rawhide artistry from the North American We...

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Antique Late 19th Century North American Native American Native American...

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Antique Sioux Parfleche Box, Painted Rawhide Plains Indian Art, c. 1900
Antique Sioux Parfleche Box, Painted Rawhide Plains Indian Art, c. 1900

Antique Sioux Parfleche Box, Painted Rawhide Plains Indian Art, c. 1900

By Native American Art

Located in Denver, CO

Exceptional antique Native American Sioux parfleche box dating to circa 1900, an outstanding example of early 20th-century Plains Indian painted rawhide artistry.

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Antique Early 1900s American Native American Native American Objects

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Northern Plains Parfleche Bonnet Case
Northern Plains Parfleche Bonnet Case

Northern Plains Parfleche Bonnet Case

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Whether you desire assistance with a jewelry purchase, choosing a gift, identification, or even selling – we hope to be your trusted source. Native American, Northern Plains Indian...

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Antique 1870s American Native American Native American Objects

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Pair Plateau Parfleche Packets
Pair Plateau Parfleche Packets

Pair Plateau Parfleche Packets

By Plateau Indians

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

The original containers had graphics that were maps, geographical depictions such as rivers and mountains, or symbols that told the family’s stories. Once the parfleche left the fami...

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Antique Early 1900s American Native American Native American Objects

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Other

Plateau Parfleche Envelope, circa 1900
Plateau Parfleche Envelope, circa 1900

Plateau Parfleche Envelope, circa 1900

By Plateau Indians

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Whether you desire assistance with a jewelry purchase, choosing a gift, identification, or even selling – we hope to be your trusted source.  Native American, Art, Parfleche, Envel...

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Antique Early 1900s American Native American Native American Objects

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Other

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Lame Bull's Personal Parfleche, Burl Bowl, & Horn Spoon

Lame Bull's Personal Parfleche, Burl Bowl, & Horn Spoon

Located in Hershey, PA

This grouping is important because it was owned by the famous Cheyenne medicine man Lame Bull. The pictorial imagery executed on the container depicts four dragonflies (an image comm...

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Antique 19th Century American Native American Objects

Materials

Burl, Horn

Native American Parfleche Envelope, Plateau, 19th Century
Native American Parfleche Envelope, Plateau, 19th Century

Native American Parfleche Envelope, Plateau, 19th Century

By Plateau Indians

Located in Denver, CO

Native American Parfleche Envelope with two stacked hourglass Formations from the late 19th century.

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Antique Late 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

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Antique Native American Parfleche Envelope, Blackfeet, circa 1875
Antique Native American Parfleche Envelope, Blackfeet, circa 1875

Antique Native American Parfleche Envelope, Blackfeet, circa 1875

By Native American Art

Located in Denver, CO

Constructed from buffalo hide in an envelope form and painted with natural pigments with abstract/geometric elements. The Blackfeet/Blackfoot tribe, part of the Plains Indian Cult...

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Antique 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

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Matching Pair of Native American Parfleche Envelopes, Plateau, 19th Century
Matching Pair of Native American Parfleche Envelopes, Plateau, 19th Century

Matching Pair of Native American Parfleche Envelopes, Plateau, 19th Century

Located in Denver, CO

Parfleche envelopes were often made in pairs. However, over time, these were often separated or one damaged or destroyed. A matching pair such as this is a rare and exciting find. ...

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Antique 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

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Native American Parfleche Envelope with Abstract Painting, 19th Century, Plateau
Native American Parfleche Envelope with Abstract Painting, 19th Century, Plateau

Native American Parfleche Envelope with Abstract Painting, 19th Century, Plateau

By Plateau Indians

Located in Denver, CO

Antique parfleche, Plateau (Native American Indian), envelope form constructed of rawhide with natural pigments arranged in a series of abstract painted devices.

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Antique 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

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Original Vintage Native American Parfleche Box
Original Vintage Native American Parfleche Box

Original Vintage Native American Parfleche Box

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H 8.75 in W 16.25 in D 10 in

Original Vintage Native American Parfleche Box

Located in Highwood, IL

A parfleche is a Native American rawhide bag, typically used for holding dried meats and pemmican.

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Early 20th Century American Boxes

Antique Native American Abstract Painted Parfleche Envelope, Plateau, circa 1890
Antique Native American Abstract Painted Parfleche Envelope, Plateau, circa 1890

Antique Native American Abstract Painted Parfleche Envelope, Plateau, circa 1890

By Native American Art

Located in Denver, CO

19th century vintage Native American Parfleche container in an envelope form, finely painted circa 1890 in an abstract design with blue, yellow, orange and red by a North American In...

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Antique 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

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Rare Matching Pair of Parfleche Envelopes, Cheyenne, 19th Century
Rare Matching Pair of Parfleche Envelopes, Cheyenne, 19th Century

Rare Matching Pair of Parfleche Envelopes, Cheyenne, 19th Century

Located in Denver, CO

This pair of Native American/North American Indian matching painted parfleche envelopes were created by a member of the Cheyenne tribe most likely around 1885.

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Antique 19th Century American Native American Tribal Art

Antique Native American Painted Parfleche Box, Sioux, circa 1880
Antique Native American Painted Parfleche Box, Sioux, circa 1880

Antique Native American Painted Parfleche Box, Sioux, circa 1880

By Sioux Indian Art

Located in Denver, CO

An antique Sioux (Plains Indian) parfleche container in a box form. Constructed of rawhide and painted with natural pigments (vegetal paints) in abstract geometric designs. A Nomadic...

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Antique 19th Century American Native American Tribal Art

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Untitled 'Cheyenne Woman with Parfleche and Umbrella', Ledger Art Drawing
Untitled 'Cheyenne Woman with Parfleche and Umbrella', Ledger Art Drawing

Untitled 'Cheyenne Woman with Parfleche and Umbrella', Ledger Art Drawing

By James Black

Located in Denver, CO

Untitled (Cheyenne Woman with Parfleche and Umbrella) is a crayon and marker on antique ledger paper drawing marked "Missouri, for the Year 1895" by contemporary Native American arti...

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2010s American Native American Paintings

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Paint, Paper

Collection of Three Native American Parfleche, 19th-20th Century
Collection of Three Native American Parfleche, 19th-20th Century

Collection of Three Native American Parfleche, 19th-20th Century

By Native American Art

Located in Denver, CO

Collection of three parfleche envelopes. Overall dimensions as displayed: 30 x 32 x 7 ¼ inches Left: Plateau, circa 1900, 28 x 13 x 4 ½ inches Center: Cheyenne, circa 1890, 29 x 14 ...

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Antique Late 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

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Antique Native American Parfleche Cylinder -  Sioux, 19th Century
Antique Native American Parfleche Cylinder -  Sioux, 19th Century

Antique Native American Parfleche Cylinder - Sioux, 19th Century

By Sioux Indian Art

Located in Denver, CO

Constructed of rawhide and painted with natural pigments with native tanned hide fringe. Cylinder forms such as this were originally created exclusively for sacred objects such as r...

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Antique 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

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Antique Native American Parfleche Envelope, Plateau, circa 1890
Antique Native American Parfleche Envelope, Plateau, circa 1890

Antique Native American Parfleche Envelope, Plateau, circa 1890

By Plateau Indians

Located in Denver, CO

Rawhide painted with abstract hourglass designs in natural pigment. Can be hung on the wall. Expedited and International Shipping is available; please contact us for an estimate.

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Antique Late 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

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Salmon Nootka Native American Hand Drum
Salmon Nootka Native American Hand Drum

Salmon Nootka Native American Hand Drum

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H 1.75 in W 8 in D 1.75 in

Salmon Nootka Native American Hand Drum

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Whether you desire assistance with a jewelry purchase, choosing a gift, identification, or even selling – we hope to be your trusted source. Native, American Indian, Native Americ...

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Early 20th Century American Native American Native American Objects

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19th Century Native American Sioux Parfleche Box, Painted Hide Plains Artifact
19th Century Native American Sioux Parfleche Box, Painted Hide Plains Artifact

19th Century Native American Sioux Parfleche Box, Painted Hide Plains Artifact

By Sioux Indian Art

Located in Denver, CO

This antique Sioux Native American parfleche box, dating from the 19th century, is a remarkable example of Plains Indian craftsmanship.

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Antique Late 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

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Native American Sioux Parfleche Box Painted Rawhide Plains Artifact circa 1900
Native American Sioux Parfleche Box Painted Rawhide Plains Artifact circa 1900

Native American Sioux Parfleche Box Painted Rawhide Plains Artifact circa 1900

By Native American Art

Located in Denver, CO

Exceptional early 20th-century Native American Sioux parfleche box, dating to circa 1900, representing a classic and highly collectible form of Plains Indian painted rawhide work.

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Antique Early 1900s American Native American Native American Objects

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Plains Indian Sioux Painted Parfleche Basket
Plains Indian Sioux Painted Parfleche Basket

Plains Indian Sioux Painted Parfleche Basket

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H 12 in W 9.75 in D 9.75 in

Plains Indian Sioux Painted Parfleche Basket

By Sioux Indian Art

Located in Sharon, CT

An open truncated basket constructed of wire with rawhide sides, painted with geometric motifs in natural paints. Tassels, held with brass.

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Antique Late 19th Century American Tribal Native American Objects

Materials

Animal Skin

Antique Native American Painted Parfleche Box, Plateau, 19th Century
Antique Native American Painted Parfleche Box, Plateau, 19th Century

Antique Native American Painted Parfleche Box, Plateau, 19th Century

Located in Denver, CO

A rare box form constructed of rawhide and intricately painted in an abstract design with natural pigments and red trade cloth. This was created by a North American Indian living in ...

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Antique 19th Century American Native American Decorative Boxes

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Native American Parfleche For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the native American parfleche you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Each native American parfleche for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using animal skin, hide and metal. Your living room may not be complete without a native American parfleche — find older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. Each native American parfleche bearing hallmarks is very popular. You’ll likely find more than one native American parfleche that is appealing in its simplicity, but Plateau Indians, Sioux Indian Art and Native American Art produced versions that are worth a look.

How Much is a Native American Parfleche?

Prices for a native American parfleche start at $1,675 and top out at $12,000 with the average selling for $4,400.

A Close Look at Native-american Furniture

Native American broadly describes any Indigenous people in North America and encompasses hundreds of tribes and groups, all with distinct cultures. Native American–style furniture and decor likewise varies widely, from pieces created by Indigenous people to those appropriated by non-native designers.

Indigenous furniture’s rich heritage includes the bentwood boxes of the Northwest Coast carved from cedar for storing household or ceremonial objects. Generations of Native American people have made baskets for holding household items, with those in the Northeast using sweetgrass and those in the Southeast using pine needles and wicker. Artisans in the Plateau region wove watertight pieces like cradles from plant materials. Although these objects were intricately made, they were usually utilitarian rather than decorative.

The colonization of North America and the removal of Indigenous people from their lands led to the suppression of these practices. Many styles that used Native American motifs — such as Southwestern style, which was heavily influenced by the geometric patterns of Navajo textiles — have historically not involved Indigenous creators and, instead, have taken their traditions without their tribal context.

When decorating a home with Native American–style furniture, it is important to do so respectfully, by understanding the origins of motifs and objects and examining who profits from their sale. There are now Indigenous-led companies, such as Cherokee designer Cray Bauxmont-Flynn’s Amatoya and Totem House Design, promoting Indigenous work in furniture and home decor. Supporting Indigenous artists and artisans is essential to confronting the still pervasive issue of cultural appropriation in design.

Find a collection of Native American living room furniture, folk art, rugs and carpets, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.

Finding the Right Native-american-objects for You

As part of thoughtful home decor, antique and vintage Native American objects — works created by Native American artists and artisans — can bring rich textures and colors into a space.

Art collecting can be done in a socially and environmentally conscious way that reinvests in local communities. Tribal art is traditionally crafted with earth-friendly materials that respect the environment.

Textiles have long been objects of art and utility for Native Americans. Traditional weaving techniques involve material made from plant and animal fibers. Different tribes have woven distinctive patterns and colors into blankets, rugs and garments, such as the vibrant geometric shapes woven from wool by the Navajo.

After metal and glass beads were introduced to North America by Europeans, they became a popular form of art. Intricate beading appears on clothing, jewelry and other objects. Beadwork not only looks stunning, but it is also deeply emblematic of Native American ethnicity and can be used to pass stories handed down from generation to generation. Beaded garments have often been commissioned for important events like weddings, dances and celebrations.

Native Americans initially created pottery out of necessity to carry water and store food. For centuries, artists have decorated jugs, vases and other vessels, from designs etched into clay to experimentation with firing methods for unique finishes.

Find a diverse collection of colorful and culturally enriching antique and vintage Native American decorative items, objects and much more on 1stDibs.

Questions About Native American Parfleche

  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 12, 2021
    A Native American artifact is any object that provides insight into the lives and history of native people in America. These items range from carved stone pipes, weapons for hunting, tools for cooking, pottery, jewelry and more. Find a collection of artifacts on 1stDibs today.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    What Native American drums are called varies by type. Ones designed to rest in the player's lap are hand drums, while instruments that hold water used primarily by the Iroquois and Yaqui are water drums. Large freestanding drums that produce loud percussive sounds are powwow drums. The Aztec and Hopi used foot drums. You'll find a range of Native American drums on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Native American slippers are called moccasins. Moccasins are characterized by their U-shaped puckered toe design and are crafted with various leathers such as sheepskin or buffalo. They may or may not be decorated with beading. Shop a collection of authentic moccasins from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    It depends on which region the beads were made since they were created out of available materials found in the land around them. In the Eastern Woodlands, white and purple marine shell beads were called “wampum”. You can shop a collection of Native American beadwork from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The most well-known Native American blankets come from Navajo weaving, which are prized by collectors worldwide. Originally utilitarian, the Navajo people began creating blankets specifically for export and tourism in the 19th century. Shop a collection of Navajo blankets from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    What a Native American headdress represents depends on what tribe produced it. In general, headdresses may symbolize a person's status within the tribe or serve as a sign of bravery during battle. You'll find a selection of Native American headdresses on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To identify Native American baskets, you can research the patterns using authoritative online resources to try and determine which tribe produced it. However, many replicas exist and there are many tribes that produced baskets. As a result, it is a good idea to consult a licensed appraiser. On 1stDibs, find a variety of expertly vetted Native American baskets.
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 13, 2024
    To identify Native American beadwork, first consider the materials. Indigenous American artisans often produce beads out of glass and natural materials, such as shells, bone and wood, and use metal and plastic in their pieces less frequently. Older pieces will usually be held together by sinew, while newer examples will typically feature thread. Regardless of age, Native American beadwork will typically be expertly crafted, so pieces usually have tight, even stitching with no visible gaps. Familiarizing yourself with stitching techniques used by various tribes can also be helpful. You can find images of authentic beadwork on trusted online resources to refer to as you complete the identification process. Alternatively, you can have a certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer evaluate your piece. On 1stDibs, shop a wide variety of textiles and garments that feature Native American beadwork.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    In the Native American language of Powhatan spoken by the Algonquian indigenous people, moccasin refers to a hand-sewn suede bootie. Today, people may call any shoes that feature stitched round toes by the name. Shop a variety of moccasins on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    There are a wide array of different dolls made by the various tribes of Native American peoples. Some of the most well-known are the kachinas made by the Navajo, Hopi and Pueblo peoples. Shop an array of Native American dolls on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    What Native Americans used to produce baskets varied from tribe to tribe. Generally, craftsmen used whatever materials were readily available. In the Northeast, sweet grass was a common material, while pine needles and wicker are frequently found in baskets produced by tribes in the Southeast. Find a range of vintage and antique baskets on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
    A number of Native American tribes are known for pottery, including the Cheyenne, Cherokees, Hopi, Iroquois, Navajo Pueblo and Shoshone. Artisans from each indigenous group have their own style. For example, Hopi pottery is often a red-brown color and decorated with black designs, while Navajo pottery is deeper brown and usually has a high-gloss finish. Find a selection of Native American pottery on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To tell if Native American jewelry is real, have it evaluated by a licensed and experienced appraiser. Because every tribe has its own designs and identifying characteristics, it is usually not possible to determine authenticity using only online resources. Find a collection of expertly vetted Native American jewelry on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    What rattles symbolize in Native American culture varies from tribe to tribe. Some indigenous people believe they serve as connections between the natural and spiritual worlds. Others believe they represent the ties between animals, plants and minerals. In addition, rattles sometimes symbolize independence. On 1stDibs, find a selection of Native American rattles.
  • 1stDibs ExpertOctober 30, 2024
    Yes, some Native American jewelry is worth something. As with other types of jewelry, many pieces are made of fine materials, such as sterling silver, turquoise, jasper and lapis lazuli. Jewelry produced by Native American artists may also have value based on its age, style, type and other factors. Find a large selection of Native American jewelry on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The two types of Native American beadwork are called the “lazy stitch” or “lane stitch” and the “tack stitch” or “flat stitch”. You can shop a collection of Native American beadwork from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.