Parfleche Bag

Native American rawhide container embellished by painting. Envelope-shaped parfleches have historically been used to contain items such as household tools or food (i.e. dried meat or pemmican). The bags are usually decorated with a distinctive style of graphic artwork often symbolizing landscape features such as rivers and mountains. Historically, women were the main creators of parfleches, first painting stretched-out raw hides, then shaping them into their final form.

Condition: Some paint fading, wear commensurate with age. Scrapes and small cuts from preparing the hide.