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Plateau Parfleche Envelope, 19th Century Native American Rawhide Art
$7,200
£5,426.78
€6,272.38
CA$10,173.56
A$11,120.07
CHF 5,856.67
MX$136,731.97
NOK 73,192.26
SEK 68,859.47
DKK 46,827.17
About the Item
This exceptional hand-painted parfleche envelope is a striking example of 19th-century Native American art from the Plateau cultural region. Crafted from rawhide and adorned with bold geometric designs, the piece reflects the ingenuity and visual language of Plateau tribes such as the Nez Perce, Flathead, Kalispel, Kutenai, Coeur d’Alene, and Palus.
Parfleches—named by French traders and meaning “to parry arrows”—were traditionally made by Indigenous women using untanned hide, folded into flat, portable containers. They were used to store and transport clothing, tools, food, and other personal items during seasonal migrations. Though functional in origin, these pieces were also works of symbolic and cultural expression, with painted designs serving as identifiers of tribal affiliation, spiritual beliefs, and social status.
This envelope-form parfleche features a vibrant abstract composition in natural pigments, showcasing a sophisticated use of color, symmetry, and spatial rhythm. The vivid design reflects the evolution of parfleche painting from body tattooing motifs, making each example a unique expression of tribal identity and female artistry.
Highly versatile, this artifact can be displayed flat or vertically as a decorative wall hanging, or mounted on a stand or shelf to emphasize its sculptural form. It also pairs beautifully with other parfleche objects for a curated ethnographic display.
With its refined composition and historical authenticity, this painted rawhide container stands as a rare and collectible example of Native American Plateau artistry, offering insight into the creative and functional lives of Indigenous peoples of the North American West.
Please contact us for additional images, condition details, or a custom shipping quote. Authenticity guaranteed. Expedited shipping available upon request.
- Creator:Plateau Indians (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 34 in (86.36 cm)Width: 16.5 in (41.91 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
- Style:Native American (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1870
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Denver, CO
- Reference Number:Seller: 203721stDibs: LU1004629015592
About the Seller
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