ticketsMember | Make a donation

Parfleche flat case

ca. 1850
Not on view
This flat rawhide case, called a parfleche, was used to transport important belongings from one camp to the next. Its surface provides a luminous ground for the painted bold, colorful geometric shapes and delicate, black and brown graphic elements. The case would be hung from the pommel of a saddle, with the long fringe registering the movements of both horse and wind. Plains women also made parfleche cylinders, envelopes, and boxes; the term originated with French fur traders.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Parfleche flat case
  • Date: ca. 1850
  • Geography: Possibly made in Texas, United States; Possibly made in Oklahoma, United States
  • Culture: Comanche, Native American
  • Medium: Bison rawhide, pigment, and tanned leather
  • Dimensions: 33 × 11 1/2 in. (83.8 × 29.2 cm)
  • Credit Line: The Charles and Valerie Diker Collection of Native American Art, Gift of Charles and Valerie Diker, 2019
  • Object Number: 2019.456.16
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Man's moccasins, Tanned leather, glass beads, and pigment, Comanche, Native American
Man's moccasins
Comanche, Native American
ca. 1870
Pair of parfleche envelopes, Rawhide, pigment, and tanned leather, Blackfoot, Blood or Siksika, Native American
On loan to The Met
Pair of parfleche envelopes
Blackfoot, Blood or Siksika, Native American
ca. 1890
Armchair, Gustave Herter German (Stuttgart, principality of Württemberg), Walnut, original leather, modern velvet cushion, American
Armchair
Gustave Herter
ca. 1855
Eyeglass Case, Hood and Tobey American, Leather, American
Eyeglass Case
Hood and Tobey
ca. 1860
Sheath, John Bailey American, Silver, leather, American
Sheath
John Bailey
1800–1830

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.