Antique Native American Abstract Painted Parfleche Envelope, Crow, 19th Century

A Classic Period (Pre-Reservation era) knife sheath created circa 1870 by a Crow (Plains Indian/Native American) artist. Constructed of Native tanned hid...

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...

Hopi HeHeya Clown carrying a watermelon and backpack from the 1st quarter of the 20th century. Made of wood with pigments, dimensions measure 11 ½ x 3 ½ x 3 ¾ inches. The Heheya K...

American Indian moccasins, expertly beaded by a member of the Sioux (Plains Indian) tribe. The dark blue elements on the vamps symbolize Buff...

Apache Basketry Olla with Crosses, woven of natural fibers, willow with devil's claw, circa 1910. The basket measures 12 ¼ height x 9 inches diameter. ...

Genuine crow saddle with brain tanned deer hide. Original beaded horns and drops. Original wood and hide stirrups with drops connected with saddle leather st...

Wood and Horn frame wrapped in rawhide with wooden stirrups. Original harness leather stitching complete with buffalo hide seat pad. Brain tanned bands attac...

Plateau parfleche of steer or elk hide, gun barrel scraper used. Ex. LaPlant collection. Period: Last quarter 19th century Origin: Plateau Size: 12" x 24".       Family Owned & Ope...

Native American Antique Beaded Gauntlets Buck skin Gauntlets Finely beaded with floral design probably Cree Period Early 20th century  

Native American Antique Pima Basket with bird or eagle motive Vintage Pima early 20th century Willow and Devils Claw Basket or Tray, Width 9 inches...

Early 20th Century Native American North West Coast Eagle Comb The eagle has a frog in its claws which is “holding” a whale. Carved with classic Nort...