Name: Native American Parfleche Envelope, Plateau, 19th Century
Brand: Plateau Indians
Rating: 5 (5 reviews)

Native American Parfleche Envelope, Plateau, 19th Century

View Similar Items

19th Century Plateau Parfleche

Plateau Parfleche Envelope, circa 1900

1870s Plateau Rawhide Parfleche Envelope, Geometric Patterns, Transitional Style

Pair Plateau Parfleche Packets

Native American Roach, Plains, 20th Century

Native American Plateau Beaded Belt Strip

Colorful Plateau Cornhusk Native American Sally Bag

19th Century Native American Corn Husk Plateau Bag

19th Century Native American Athabaskan Snowshoes

19th Century Native American Crow Beaded Saddle

19th Century Native American Crow Woman's Saddle

19th Century Native American Hidatsa Arikara Medicine Shirt

About the Item

Native American Parfleche Envelope with two stacked hourglass Formations from the late 19th century. Parfleches are rawhide containers which were fundamental to the plains and plateau 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/beadwork motifs. Nevertheless, each tribe contributed a unique element to parfleche design. The painted and carved motifs we see today vividly demonstrate just how highly evolved the Plains artisans’ sense of color palette and spatial composition was. In recent decades, this appreciation for parfleche painted designs has inspired many modern artists.

Creator:
Plateau Indians (Maker)
Dimensions:
Height: 3.75 in (9.53 cm)Width: 12.75 in (32.39 cm)Depth: 29 in (73.66 cm)
Style:
Native American (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Hide,Painted
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
Late 19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Last Quarter of The 19th Century
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
Seller Location:
Denver, CO
Reference Number:
Seller: 132371stDibs: LU100467165333

More From This Seller

View All

1870s Plateau Rawhide Parfleche Envelope, Geometric Patterns, Transitional Style

By Plateau Indians

Located in Denver, CO

This beautifully painted parfleche container, crafted in the shape of an envelope, features an abstract design and is a striking example of North American Indian art. This piece, or...

Category

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

Materials

Hide

1870s Plateau Rawhide Parfleche Envelope, Geometric Patterns, Transitional Style

$7,200

Native American Roach, Plains, 20th Century

Located in Denver, CO

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...

Category

Antique 1880s American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Fur

Native American Roach, Plains, 20th Century

$2,250

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

Located in Denver, CO

This ceremonial Nanaka tunic (also known as a man’s shirt) originates from the Toro Palca region in Potosí, Bolivia, and is a stunning example of traditional Quechua Indian craftsman...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Bolivian Native American Objects

Materials

Wool

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

$10,800

Antique Native American Roach Headdress, 19th Century Plains Indian Tribal Art

By Native American Art

Located in Denver, CO

This stunning antique 19th-century Native American roach headdress, crafted by Plains Indian artisans, is a remarkable example of traditional tribal ar...

Category

Antique 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Fur

Antique Native American Roach Headdress, 19th Century Plains Indian Tribal Art

$3,750

Circa 1880 Antique Cheyenne Plains Native American Beaded Leggings, 19th Century

By Native American Art

Located in Denver, CO

This stunning pair of antique 19th-century Cheyenne Plains Tobacco Society beaded leggings, dating back to the 1880s, showcases the artistry and cultur...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Hide, Beads

Circa 1880 Antique Cheyenne Plains Native American Beaded Leggings, 19th Century

$4,500

Vintage 1920s Navajo Double Saddle Blanket, Maltese Cross Design, Neutral Tones

By Navajo Indian Art

Located in Denver, CO

This vintage Navajo double saddle blanket, woven in the early 20th century (likely the 1920s), is a stunning example of traditional Navajo weavin...

Category

Early 20th Century American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Wool

Vintage 1920s Navajo Double Saddle Blanket, Maltese Cross Design, Neutral Tones

$2,250

Antique Late 19th Century American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Other

19th Century Plateau Parfleche

$1,400

Plateau Parfleche Envelope, circa 1900

By Plateau Indians

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Plateau painted parfleche envelope painted in green, blue, orange, yellow and red. Period: circa 1900 Origin: Plateau Size: 28" L x 12" W. Family ...

Category

Antique Early 1900s American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Other

Plateau Parfleche Envelope, circa 1900

$4,500

Pair Plateau Parfleche Packets

By Plateau Indians

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Matched pair of Plateau parfleche packets with diamonds and stylized flowers and brain tanned ties. Difficult to find a pair. Very nice, rare design. The term parfleche was first co...

Category

Antique Early 1900s American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Other

Pair Plateau Parfleche Packets

$9,680 / item

Native American Plateau Beaded Belt Strip

By Plateau Indians

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Very nice fully beaded Plateau belt on saddle leather. Note: all back stitches go through. Colors of greasy yellow, red, white, and blue on leather. Period: Early 20th Century Orig...

Category

Early 20th Century American Native American Native American Objects

Materials

Beads

Native American Plateau Beaded Belt Strip

$1,500

Colorful Plateau Cornhusk Native American Sally Bag

By Plateau Indians

Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID

Colorful Plateau cornhusk sally bag with geometric designs of green, blue and red linen. Canvas reinforced. Period: First quarter of the 20th century Origin: Plateau Size: 6" D x 10...

Category