Arapaho Painted Parfleche Shield
second half 19th century
diminutive size; thin parfleche disk painted in blue, green, red, and yellow is surrounded by buffalo hide
diameter 7 inches; length 20 inches
A comparable shield design is described by Alfred L. Kroeber in The Arapaho. In his discussion of a painted rawhide shield covering, Kroeber notes that a central cross or star-shaped motif represents the Morning Star, while surrounding triangular elements signify lodges. Concentric circles represent the sun, and small black circular marks denote bullets; those that the shield was believed capable of stopping (Kroeber 1902: 135).
This lot is located in Chicago.
