Bentwood Box

Bentwood boxes were used primarily for storage of food, implements, and ceremonial regalia, but were also used for cooking and serving food. They were trade goods or gifts, and were symbols of wealth and prestige. Boxes used for ceremonial purposes were usually more highly decorated than those for utilitarian use.

The Raley catalogue listed the box as coming from Bella Bella, so it was thought to be Heiltsuk. However it has also been noted as being carved in a similar style to a box made by Chief Jack Johnson, who was Wuikinuxv.

Bentwood, or kerfed-corner, containers are constructed by a process unique to the Northwest Coast Aboriginal peoples. The carver begins with a single straight-grained plank of red cedar, or sometimes yellow cedar, spruce, or yew. The surface of the plank is finished with chisels, adzes, and knives; in earlier times, it was smoothed further with sandstone or dried sharkskin. Then three parallel kerfs, or grooves, are carved out at measured points across the width of the board, at right angles to the long edge. The kerfs, which will become three corners of the box, allow the board to be steamed until the wood fibres are softened, and then carefully bent to form a box with symmetrical sides. The final corner, as well as a fitted base, are joined and fastened with pegs (through drilled holes) or laced with spruce root or twisted cedar withes (branches). Storage boxes also have fitted lids of cedar, hollowed from the inside. Finally, painted compositions may be applied to the completed box and shallow carving added to bring the forms into relief. A well-made bentwood box is watertight. Historically, most boxes were used to store preserved foods and material goods; plain cooking boxes could be used to steam or boil food by adding water and heated stones.

Bentwood box with lid (part b). Holes bored on ends for rope handles. Carved with design elements. The front has a design consisting of a somewhat square-like shape that has an inward curve around the top middle, creating a two-lobed effect with red eye-like features at the opposite bottom ends. Black upward angled diagonal lines are at either side and curve inward around the top inward curve. The ends are carved with a head-like design, in profile facing towards the front panel. The left end has an eye surrounded by dots and a three-lobed shape above while the right end has an eye surrounded by a black area and a fin-like shape above. The back panel is red. Colours are red, black, and white. Lid (part b) has an upstanding ridge on one side which has a design consisting of central vertical light band emanating with downward pointing diagonal red and black lines with a vertical light band of black dots at either side.