Antique Native American Doll, Southern Cheyenne (Plains), 19th Century

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...

Created in the late 19th century, these authentic Northwest Coast Native American Indian dolls are depicted wearing traditional Athapas...

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...

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...

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...

Here is an exceptional piece, fresh from a vintage estate. This beautiful antique Native American doll has incredible presence and a fan...

Lot of 16 antique Native American Skookum dolls featuring men, women, children and babies wearing traditional wool clothing with beaded accents, headdresses and tapestry blankets. ...

Pre-reservation Cheyenne dress. Hand-sewn, pieced together; blue trade cloth, ribbon-like edging, cowry shell cape on both sides. This piece without any restoration. Hard to find thi...

Southern plains Hightop Moccasins Item Number: AG2312 Exceptional Kiowa/Comanche hightop moccasins dyed with yellow ochre. Adorned with a single be...

A mid 19th century maple and pine turned wood doll’s bed of nice proportions, with detailed turnings on the four bed posts. The bottom is "roped" with natural...

Athabaskan snowshoe pair with wood frames having finely woven sinew front and back with heavy rawhide centers. String wrapped toes and wonderful golden patina. Ex. James B. Scoville ...