TOTEMS TO TURQUOISE (AMNH, NEW YORK, NY, USA, 2004)

Silver box with lid. Top of lid (part b) is densely carved in a killer whale design in silver on an oxidized black background. Large head is placed at bottom left corner, mouth open, tongue emerging. Body runs along top edge, where a human figure clings, its head at top left, hand on whale’s back in front of dorsal fin, legs stretched along whale’s body with foot resting on top right side of lid. Whale’s tail curves down to the lower right corner, where decorated flukes point toward centre. Whale flipper sits at bottom centre. Box (part a) is undecorated.

Carved, lidded box. Dark brown thin and oblong box, with heads emerging at both ends serving as handles. Bottom portion of box (part a) has a thick base, with shallowly carved interior dish. Exterior is heavily carved with intricate faces and curved lines, with inset circles of iridescent shell for eyes. Two holes are carved into the rim of the box into which fit corresponding squares of wood emerging from the lid (part b). Lid is similar in shape to bottom portion, with a shallow interior, and heavy intricate exterior carvings. A wide face sits at either end with the same iridescent shell for eyes.

Small tackle box (tuluma) with lid. The container is somewhat cylindrical, tapering in slightly towards top. A small rope of sennit is attaches the lid to the body, and runs through the holes in the container's handles and small handle on the lid. There is a large rectangular label on the side with a hand-written message.

Bentwood box with faded painting. Interior sides and base blackened. Square-shaped with three kerfed edges. The seam and base attached with pegs. No lid.

Small bentwood box, slightly angled on the square base with sloping top (a). A carved man stands inside the box, holding a broken paddle (b). The box is surrounded by five octopus arms. Artist's inscription on base.

Rectangular wooden quillwork box with lid (part b). Box is made of birch bark and covered with quillwork forming chevron patterns. The two short sides of the box have a curved lip. The lid also has a dense pattern of quillwork over it.

Small bentwood box (part a) with lid (part b). Box has soft rounded corners with thin square base painted in grey-blue. Killer whale design carved around exterior. Thick grey-blue square lid with sharp edge. Artist initials carved in base.