Bentwood Boxes

Southeast Alaska bentwood boxes are traditional containers crafted by the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples, known for their unique construction using a single plank of cedar that is steamed and bent to form the four sides. These boxes were essential, versatile items used for a wide range of purposes, including storage, cooking, ceremonial occasions, and burials. 

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Key Characteristics

• Construction: The boxes are typically made from a single plank of Western Red or Yellow Cedar. Grooves, or kerfs, are precisely cut into the plank to allow for sharp 90-degree angles when bent. The wood is made pliable through a steaming process, bent at the kerfs, and the final, fourth corner is then secured by sewing with cord, dowelling with wooden pegs, or glue.

• Watertight and Durable: The precise fitting of the joints, base, and lid makes the boxes exceptionally airtight and watertight, excellent for keeping out moisture, pests, and other natural elements.

• Decoration: While many utilitarian boxes were left plain or painted with simple red corners, those intended for storing valuable items like ceremonial regalia were often elaborately carved and painted with traditional Northwest Coast formline designs. Designs often depict clan crests, which convey a family's history and social status.

• Cultural Significance: Bentwood boxes are highly valued possessions and heirlooms, passed down through generations. They embody cultural heritage and the specialized craftsmanship of the Northwest Coast peoples. 

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Historical and Contemporary Uses

Historically, bentwood boxes served a wide array of practical and ceremonial functions: 

• Storage: The most common use was for storing food (like dried fish or eulachon oil), tools, household items, and valuable clan treasures like regalia and masks.

• Cooking: The watertight construction meant they could be filled with water, and hot stones dropped in to boil food, such as seafood soups.

• Transport: They were used as portable containers during long canoe journeys, sometimes serving as a combination seat and storage box.

• Burial: In earlier times, bentwood boxes were also used as burial containers for the deceased, placed in grave houses or mortuary poles. 

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Today, contemporary Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian artists continue to create these functional and artistic pieces, recognized for their skill and ability to keep this important tradition alive.