Plains Indian Parfleche Carry-all

Early/Mid 20th Century 

12.875" H x 28.5" L x 2.25" W

Hand Crafted from Rawhide Leather with Painted Blue, Red, Green, and Yellow Colors in a Geometric Design and a Cream Field and a Leather Strap for Closing

In Very Good Condition

A Plains Indian parfleche (or "carry-all") is a traditional folded rawhide carrying bag or container made by Plains tribes. Parfleche served as the “suitcase” or valise of nomadic Plains Indians. Women typically made them from buffalo (bison) rawhide to carry and protect clothing, moccasins, dried foods (like pemmican), tools, and personal valuables during travel.  The word "parfleche" comes from French Canadian fur traders (from parer "to parry/defend" + flèche "arrow"), originally referring to tough rawhide shields that could deflect arrows, but it later applied mainly to these decorated rawhide bags.