Painted Rawhide Parfleche
The Plains Suitcase
The parfleche is a testament to the engineering brilliance of the mobile Plains nations. By processing buffalo hide without tanning it into soft leather, the makers created a material that was as stiff and durable as modern plywood.
Construction
- Material: Rawhide, which has been de-haired, scraped thin, and dried under tension.
- Design: Usually a single large sheet folded into an envelope shape and secured with leather laces.
- Artistry: Each parfleche was a canvas for geometric paintings, often representing the landscape, the creator’s lineage, or the intended contents of the bag.
Role in Ethnobotany
The stiffness of the parfleche made it the ideal container for dried roots and berries. It would not collapse under the weight of other gear on a horse or travois, preventing the delicate dried botanicals from being crushed into dust.
Modern Connection
While authentic parfleche is a specialized artisanal craft, modern leatherworkers and ethnobotanists often use thick vegetable-tanned leather to create similar durable storage for their foraging gear.