Pikuni (Blackfeet), Parfleche, 1890-1910, animal hide, pigment, The Ethel Morrison Van Derlip Trust Fund

When Form Follows Function: Rawhide Containers from the Plains

Friday, August 24, 2007—Sunday, February 10, 2008
Gallery 261a
Free Exhibition

Painted rawhide containers, known as parfleche, were traditionally made and used by tribes of the Plains region to store and transport food and possessions. Adorned with a variety of complex abstract designs, passed down through generations of women, these containers provided a means for creative, spiritual, and intellectual expression, while preserving the traditions of the artists' ancestors.

This mini-exhibition explores the various functions of these containers, which dictated their size, form, and designs. Containers from different tribes reveal similarities, diversity, and beauty.