Example: Parfleche Bag

Dublin Core

Title

Example: Parfleche Bag

Subject

bags/pouches

Description

A parfleche bag affiliated with the Pikuni Blackfeet (creator unknown). The parfleche bag is a durable, envelope-shaped container made of untanned, cleaned, and folded rawhide, historically used by Plains Indian women to transport dried meat, clothing, and personal items. Parfleche bags are weatherproof and painted with geometric designs. The term originated from French fur traders, referring to the hide's strength to "defend" against arrows.

Creator

Creator unknown; Pikuni Blackfeet (Piegan)

Source

National Museum of the American Indian

Date

c. 1880

Contributor

  • Previous Owner: Dr. Walter A. Stevens (Walter Augustus Stevens), Non-Indian, 1831-1907
  • Previous Owner: Elnora V. Stevens (Elnora Victoria Richards/Mrs. Walter A. Stevens), Non-Indian, 1838-1930
  • Previous Owner: Genevieve I. Stevens, Non-Indian, 1872-1954

Rights

Creative Commons 0 (CC-0) License

Relation

Pikuni Blackfeet (Piegan)

Format

Rawhide, paint

Type

Parfleche bag

Identifier

NMAI_154099
Link to original record: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ws6bcf3bee0-a2b1-4ee5-9b39-444f4a7b336e

Coverage

Montana, U.S.

Citation

Creator unknown; Pikuni Blackfeet (Piegan), “Example: Parfleche Bag,” LIS 652 -Omeka Sandbox, accessed September 29, 2026, https://lis652omeka.usmcdh.org/items/show/1.