The lot features a phenomenal geometric pattern pigment polychrome painted parfleche envelope from the Shoshone Native American Indian tribe and dating to the 1800’s. The piece shows a Great American Bison Buffalo parfleche rawhide construction with exceptional mineral ocher pigment polychrome painted design in a geometric traditional pattern showing reds, blues, greens, and yellows. The bag is held together with original early hide ties. The term parfleche was first coined by the French fur traders and derived from the French word “parer” meaning defend and “fleche” meaning arrows, as the hide was tough enough to be used as a shield and deflect an arrow. The original containers had graphics that were maps, geographical depictions such as rivers and mountains, or symbols that told the family’s stories. Once the parfleche left the family, the story was lost and the parfleche became Indian art rather than a meaningful storyteller. Shoshone parfleche artifacts are increasingly scarce with most authentic examples, such as this mid to late 1800’s envelope, being in or from museum collections. This piece shows fine original paint and overall good condition for being well over 100 years of age. Many examples offered for sale are merely tourist trade parfleche with poor painting and thin hides, which this example is most definitely not as it shows a heavy Bison hide and wonderful painting dating to the circa 1800’s. This is truly an extraordinary nomadic traveling storage piece that now is seen as one of the original American works of art. Provenance: From one of the largest American Indian Collections in the country in Billings, Montana. When tied shut, the envelope measures 30"L by 16.5"W by about 2" thick.