Plains Rawhide Parfleche Case, Painted Diamond Design, Red Trade Cloth Edges

Native American, Plains, ca. 19th century CE. A rawhide parfleche case made from a single stiff panel of hide folded into a flat envelope, closed with a deep flap, and laced down both sides with thong over strips of red wool trade cloth. The front is painted in green, red, and yellow. A green bar set with yellow squares runs down the center like a spine. On either side, red and green bands cross to form two nested diamonds. Each diamond holds a pair of green triangles, point to point, joined by a short yellow dashed line, and more triangles sit in the corners. The paint is notably bright compared with the well-worn hide and may have been refreshed at a later date. A strip of printed cotton calico ties the flap shut. Rawhide loops on the plain back likely let the case hang from a saddle when moving camp. The word "parfleche" comes from French-speaking traders, probably from "parer" (to parry) and "flèche" (arrow). It refers to how stiff dried rawhide is, hard enough to turn an arrow. Across the Plains these rawhide containers held dried meat, pemmican, clothing, and personal and ceremonial belongings. They were light and tough, and they shed water. These are the qualities a mobile people needed when they packed up and moved camp, often on horseback. Parfleche making was women's work from start to finish. A woman staked out a fresh hide, scraped it clean, and painted it while it was still damp. Once it dried she cut and folded it into its final shape. Small sewn cases like this one, with a flap and laced sides, held smaller valuables, while the large folded envelopes held bulk supplies. Painters generally did not sketch the full design ahead of time. Some used straight sticks to guide their lines, but the whole layout had to be worked out in the head before painting began. A balanced design like this one shows careful planning. The materials show contact with traders. Red wool trade cloth is laced into the side seams, and a strip of printed cotton calico serves as the tie. Plains makers used these trade goods freely alongside rawhide and sinew, and they help place cases like this in the reservation-era and pre-reservation world of the later 19th century. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. Item # 206010

Stima:€536.05

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