Parfleche

A parfleche is a type of wallet or bag made from rawhide. Historically made by Plateau, Great Basin, and Plains women, they are usually decorated with brightly colored geometrical designs.[1]

A parfleche is a Native American rawhide container that is embellished by painting, incising, or both.

Envelope-shaped parfleches have historically been used to contain items such as household tools or foods, such as dried meat or pemmican. They were commonly made in pairs and hung from saddles. Their designs may have once served as maps.[2] In contemporary usage, they may carry social, spiritual, and symbolic meaning, or be part of dance or parade regalia.

The bags are usually decorated with a distinctive style of graphic artwork, often symbolizing landscape features such as rivers and mountains.[2] Historically women were the main creators of parfleches,[1] first painting stretched-out raw hides, then shaping them into their final form. In the 21st century, both women and men make them.

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Medicine was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Goes In Center, Jhon (Oglala Lakota), "Native American and First Nations' GIS" for Native Geography 2000