Bentwood Boxes

We sell bentwood boxes, created by a number of well known talented artists:

The page on Bentwood Boxes at www.civilization.ca states:

"Boxes were used to store food stuffs, clothing, regalia and ritual paraphernalia such as rattles and whistles. Some boxes were simply made of bent sheets of cedar bark sewn at the corners and base to provide disposable containers for trade items, while others were more substantial and durable bentwood boxes. Bentwood boxes for food ranged in capacity from a couple of litres (quarts) up to 225 L (50 gallons). George M. Dawson observed that boxes of eulachon grease brought to the islands for trade by the Tsimshian required two men each to pack them up the beach from the canoes.

Bentwood storage boxes destined to store important wealth objects were provided with a guardian spirit decoration in the form of supernatural marine beings and more familiar animals. They also had heavy plank lids, whose edges were decorated with vertical rows of opercula shells. The lids were tied in place with elaborate knotwork of cedar bark cordage."

See how boxes are made by clicking here.

There is more information and photos at The Repatriation Project Site

To discover more about the Haida People in general, click here.