Beautiful form and useful function. 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."

Bentwood boxes are made with cedar. A wooden plank is split from a cedar log and cut to make four squares, but the cuts do not go all the way through the wood. A steaming pit is made on the beach. It is filled with hot rocks from a fire and wet seaweed. The cut plank is put into the pit. After the plank has steamed for a while,it is taken out to be bent. Quickly, it is bent along the three cuts of the box. The open side of the bent box is then pegged or sewn with cedar root. The top and bottom pieces are fitted and attached with pegs. Finally, the box is painted.