parfleche, unrecorded Cheyenne, Ka’igwu, or Numunuu artist

Exhibition Label:
"Passages: Persistent Visions of a Native Place," Sep-2011, Nancy Mahaney
Parfleche-folded rawhide envelopes-were made and traded widely across the plains. Larger envelopes were used to store clothing, dried meat, and other supplies. Used as saddle bags, they were usually made in pairs.
Cheyenne were known for outlining their designs with fine brown lines.

In addition, the entire composition of this piece is bordered with a double band enclosing rectangular blocks of red that align with the two panels of the envelope, composed of stacked half-diamonds that form a central diamond motif at the center of each flap.

Exhibition Label:
"Echoes of Human Migration in the Collection of the Spencer Museum of Art," Mar-2010
The Plains Indian Tribes used parfleche “envelopes” such as these to carry food and other belongings when they moved their camps. Throughout the year they followed the bison herds on their annual migrations. The parfleche bags were filled with dried meat and plants, and hung from the saddle as the groups made their seasonal rounds in search of food. The term parfleche itself (literally “defend arrow”) was originally used by French fur traders and refers to the animal-hide construction, which was tough enough to deflect arrows.