Painted Hide Robe Cotsiogo 'Cadzi Cody', Shoshone, circa 1890, Native American

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

This pair of 19th century antique moccasins date to circa 1880 and are constructed of native tanned hide and sewn with glass trade beads in colors of...

Vintage Southwestern Native American Pueblo Old Pawn cuff bracelet, circa 1915. Stamped ingot silver with a turquoise cabochon. The inner bracelet circumference measures approximatel...

Fully beaded Shohsone belt on harness leather. Dark blue edging with lighter blue center having dispersed geometric designs. Period: Late 19th century Origin: Great Basin - Shoshone...

Native American Cochiti drum with sides painted in tan, yellow and blue with black striping. Made of wood and hide. Period: Early 20th century Origin: ...

Native American Cochiti drum with sides painted in red, white and blue with black stripes. Made of wood and hide. Period: Early 20th century Origin: So...

Native American Cochiti painted drum with painted ends, turquoise painted sides made of Hereford hide. Period: Early 20th century Origin: Southwest, Cochiti Size: 11"D x 15"H Fa...

Native American Cochiti drum with sides painted in black, white and turquoise. Made of a cottonwood log and hide. Period: Early 20th century Origin: So...

Native American Cochiti drum with sides painted in rust, white and black. Made of wood and hide. Period: Early 20th century Origin: Southwest, Cochiti ...