This is a fantastic geometric pattern pigment polychrome painted parfleche envelope from the Umatilla Native American Indian tribe and dating to the 19th Century. 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 and yellow. The bag is held together with what is believed to be the original Indian brain tanned hide tie strap, a rare addition, at the center. The term parfleche was first coined by the French fur traders and derived from the French word ‰ÛÏparer‰Û meaning defend and ‰ÛÏfleche‰Û 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‰Ûªs stories. Once the parfleche left the family, the story was lost and the parfleche became Indian art rather than a meaningful storyteller. Umatilla people have traditionally inhabited the Columbia Plateau region of the Northwestern Unites States, along the Umatilla and Columbia Rivers. Umatilla artifacts are increasingly scarce with most authentic examples, such as this mid to late 1800‰Ûªs envelope, being in or from museum collections. Umatilla Polychrome Parfleche Envelopes have been offered for public sale showing the same quality and pattern as the one offered in this lot by such honorable houses as Skinner Auctions, Cisco‰Ûªs Gallery, Sundog Gallery, Cowan‰Ûªs Auction and in various museum collections such as the Penn Museum. 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 1850-1880‰Ûªs. This is truly a extraordinary nomadic traveling storage piece that now is seen as one of the original American works of art. Provenance: From the private museum collection of early Native American weapons and artifacts in Paris, France. When tied shut, the envelope measures 28 3/8" long, 15 1/4" wide, and 3 1/4" thick. For a complete representation of condition and for additional images please call 800-686-4216. It is the buyer‰Ûªs responsibility to view each image and preview the item to determine condition.