Bentwood Chest Panel Item Number: Nb3.1454 a-b from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Two bentwood chest panels. Part a: flattened panels with a short side and a longer side divided by a bevelled channel on the reverse, painted with an expansive design in black and red on the longer side and a face inside an ovoid with a red u shape at the top and bottom on the smaller side; Part b: flattened panels with a short side and a longer side divided by a bevelled channel on the reverse, painted with an expansive design on the longer side and a face inside a slightly more elongated ovoid with u shapes at the top and bottom on the shorter side.
History Of Use
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.
Specific Techniques
Bentwood, or kerfed-corner, containers are constructed by a process unique to the Northwest Coast Indigenous 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.
Item History
- Made in British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada and 'Qvuqvai, British Columbia, Canada
- Owned by Gene Joseph before June 15, 1992
- Received from Gene Joseph (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) on June 15, 1992
What
Who
- Culture
- Heiltsuk
- Previous Owner
- Gene Joseph
- Received from
- Gene Joseph (Seller) and Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- British Columbia, Canada
- Collected in
- Bella Bella, British Columbia, Canada and 'Qvuqvai, British Columbia, Canada
When
- Ownership Date
- before June 15, 1992
- Acquisition Date
- on June 15, 1992
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 1539/0001 a-b