Plateau Indians Native American Objects

A parfleche container in an envelope form, finely painted in an abstract design. Makes a stunning wall hanging alone or in a grouping with other parfleche or can be placed on a shelf or Stand. This was created by a North American Indian living in the Plateau cultural area - encompassing portions of what is now northern Idaho, western Montana, northeast and central Oregon, eastern Washington and southeast British Columbia. The tribes from this region include Kalispel, Flathead, Kutenai, Palus, Coeur D'Alene and Nez Perce. 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...

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...

19th Century Plateau beaded figurative belt. Extra wide with double buckles. Horse dancer, hourglass and geometric motif. Beads of light blue, dar...

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...

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...

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

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...

Fully beaded Plateau flat bag with floral design having T at center. Faceted beads, floral on white background with one line blue edging and black str...

Bright, fully beaded Plateau flat bag with floral design on white background. Red stroud edged and backed, flour sac lining. Interesting that there ar...