Northwest Coast Native American bentwood boxes

The Northwest Coast of North America is home to some of the world’s most distinctive and sophisticated indigenous art forms, and among its most iconic creations are the bentwood boxes. These remarkable objects, born from a profound understanding of wood properties and an unparalleled artistic tradition, served a multitude of essential functions for the Indigenous peoples of this region, from practical storage to ceremonial display. This article delves into the intricate world of Northwest Coast Native American bentwood boxes, exploring their historical context, materials, construction techniques, diverse functions, artistic embellishment, and enduring cultural significance.

I. Introduction: An Iconic Art Form

Northwest Coast bentwood boxes are masterworks of engineering and art, embodying the ingenuity and cultural depth of the Indigenous nations residing along the Pacific coast, from present-day southern Alaska through British Columbia and down into Washington State. These include, but are not limited to, the Haida, Tlingit, Kwakwaka’wakw (Kwakiutl), Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka), Gitxsan, and Coast Salish peoples. Far more than mere containers, bentwood boxes are a testament to a highly developed material culture, where utility, beauty, and spiritual meaning are inextricably linked. They are characterized by their unique construction: a single plank of wood is precisely kerfed (grooved), steamed, and bent at three corners to form the sides of a box, with the fourth corner seamlessly joined. This innovative technique created strong, durable, and often watertight vessels that were fundamental to daily life and ceremonial practices.

II. Historical and Cultural Context

The development of bentwood box technology is deeply rooted in the unique environment and socio-economic structures of the Northwest Coast. The region’s abundant natural resources, particularly its dense forests of monumental cedar trees and rich marine life, fostered complex, sedentary societies. Unlike many other hunter-gatherer cultures, these groups developed stratified social systems, elaborate ceremonial cycles (such as the Potlatch), and a highly refined art tradition that served to reinforce social status, recount oral histories, and connect with the spiritual world.

Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) was the cornerstone of Northwest Coast material culture, often referred to as the "Tree of Life." Its straight grain, light weight, durability, resistance to rot, and ease of working made it ideal for everything from massive totem poles and longhouses to canoes, textiles, and, crucially, bentwood boxes. The mastery of cedar was not just a practical skill but a spiritual relationship, reflecting a deep respect for the natural world. Archaeological evidence suggests that the basic principles of bentwood technology have existed in the region for centuries, evolving over time with the refinement of tools and artistic styles.

III. Materials and Traditional Tools

The creation of a bentwood box required specific materials and a sophisticated array of traditional tools:

1. Wood:

   • Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata): The primary choice due to its straight, workable grain, natural oils that resist rot, light weight, and aromatic qualities. It splits cleanly, making it perfect for plank production.
   • Yellow Cedar (Callitropsis nootkatensis): Sometimes used for smaller, more finely detailed boxes or components due to its even finer grain and slightly harder texture.

   

2. Fasteners and Adhesives:

   • Spruce Root (Picea sitchensis): Traditionally used for lashing the seam of the bent plank and securing the base. Spruce roots were carefully gathered, peeled, split, and soaked to become pliable and strong.
   • Wooden Pegs: Later, precisely carved wooden pegs were used, often combined with adhesives, to secure joints.
   • Animal Glue/Pine Pitch: Used to seal joints and ensure watertightness, especially for cooking boxes.

3. Pigments:

   • Black: Derived from charcoal (burnt cedar or spruce wood) mixed with salmon eggs or animal fat as a binder.
   • Red: Obtained from ochre (hematite) or iron oxides, also mixed with a binder.
   • Blue-Green: Less common, but sometimes derived from copper carbonate or specific clays.
   • Yellow: From yellow ochre.

4. Inlays: Opercula (the "trapdoor" of marine snails), abalone shell, or dentalium shells were occasionally inlaid into carved designs, particularly for eyes or highlights, adding a shimmering effect.

5. Tools:

   • Adzes: Essential for shaping planks, hollowing out wood, and creating the initial kerfs. Traditional adzes had blades of stone or shell, later replaced by iron.
   • Chisels and Knives: Used for precise carving of designs and refining joints. Traditional blades were often made of bone, stone, or beaver teeth.
   • Steaming Apparatus: Typically a pit lined with hot rocks and covered with wet materials, or specialized wooden steaming boxes, to create the steam necessary to soften the wood.
   • Grinding Stones and Abrasives: For sharpening tools and smoothing wood surfaces. Materials like horsetail rushes or sharkskin were used for sanding.

IV. The Art and Science of Construction

The creation of a bentwood box is a testament to sophisticated craftsmanship and an intimate understanding of material properties:

1. Wood Selection and Preparation: A master craftsman would carefully select a straight-grained cedar log, often from an old-growth tree. The log would be split using wedges and mallets to produce a plank of the desired thickness and width, free from knots or defects. The plank was then adzed and planed to a uniform thickness, often thicker at the top and bottom edges for strength.

2. Kerfing: This is the most distinctive and technically challenging step. Three parallel grooves (kerfs) were precisely cut into the inner surface of the plank, typically one-third of the way from each end and one in the middle. These grooves were cut deeply, leaving only a thin outer layer of wood (about 1/8 to 1/16 inch) intact. The accuracy of these cuts determined the crispness of the subsequent bends.

3. Steaming: The plank, with its kerfs, was then soaked in water and placed in a steaming pit or box. The steam softened the wood fibers, making them pliable and allowing the plank to be bent without fracturing. This process required careful timing and temperature control.

4. Bending: Once sufficiently steamed, the plank was removed and quickly bent at the kerfed lines around a form or freehand, forming the four sides of the box. This had to be done swiftly before the wood cooled and stiffened. The thin outer layer at the kerfs compressed, while the inner, thicker wood stretched, creating sharp, precise corners.

5. Joining the Seam: The two free ends of the bent plank were then carefully brought together. They were often mitered or rabbeted to create a tight, interlocking joint. Traditionally, holes were drilled along this seam, and the ends were lashed together with strong, pliable spruce root twine. Later, wooden pegs or even metal nails were used. The joint was often sealed with pine pitch or a natural adhesive to ensure watertightness.

6. Attaching the Base: A separate, precisely cut plank of wood formed the base. It was typically fitted into a rabbeted groove carved around the bottom inner edge of the bent box sides and then secured with pegs or spruce root lashing. Again, sealing was crucial for watertight applications.

7. Lids: Lids were also precisely fitted, often with a raised lip that fit snugly into the top of the box to create a seal and prevent moisture ingress. Some lids were plain, while others were elaborately carved or inlaid, echoing the designs on the box sides.

8. Finishing and Decoration: After assembly, the box would be smoothed, sometimes sanded with abrasive materials, and then decorated. The artistry of Northwest Coast peoples, particularly the "Formline" style, was applied to the surfaces of the boxes, transforming them into powerful visual narratives.

V. Types and Functions of Bentwood Boxes

Bentwood boxes served a remarkable diversity of purposes, reflecting their central role in Northwest Coast life:

1. Storage Boxes (Chests): The most common type, these varied greatly in size. Large boxes were used to store dried fish, berries, eulachon (oolichan) grease, tools, ceremonial regalia, blankets, and other valuable possessions. Smaller ones held personal effects. Their sturdy construction and tight-fitting lids protected contents from moisture and pests.

2. Cooking Boxes: Often lined with cedar bark or a bladder and made specifically watertight, these boxes were used for cooking. Water and food were placed inside, and hot stones were dropped in to boil the water, effectively cooking the contents. The interiors of these boxes often show signs of charring from the hot stones.

3. Grease Boxes: Smaller, often exquisitely decorated, these boxes held precious eulachon grease, a highly valued food staple and trade item, sometimes referred to as "liquid gold." Their elaborate designs reflected the value of their contents.

4. Burial Boxes (Coffins): Larger, simpler bentwood boxes were used as coffins for deceased individuals. They were often unpainted or adorned with more restrained, symbolic designs, reflecting their solemn purpose.

5. Treasure Boxes: These were typically smaller, often more finely crafted and elaborately decorated boxes used to hold personal valuables, ritual objects, or small ceremonial items.

VI. Artistic Expression and Symbolism

The surfaces of bentwood boxes were canvases for the iconic art style of the Northwest Coast, known as "Formline art." This highly conventionalized and dynamic style is characterized by:

• Ovoids, U-forms, and S-forms: These are the fundamental geometric elements that compose animal and human figures.
• Primary Forms: Strong, continuous lines, typically black, that define the main anatomical features and contours of figures.
• Secondary Forms: Often red, these lines elaborate on the primary forms, adding internal details, joint articulations, and expressions.
• Tertiary Forms: Less common, often blue-green or yellow, used for minor details or background elements.

The designs on bentwood boxes frequently depicted crest figures – animals and mythological beings such as Raven, Eagle, Bear, Wolf, Killer Whale, and Thunderbird – that represented clan affiliations, lineage histories, and spiritual powers. These images were not merely decorative; they were powerful statements of identity, ownership, and narrative. The designs were often conceived to wrap around the box, creating a continuous visual story or a powerful, composite image that could be "read" from different angles. The placement and interaction of the forms demonstrated the artist’s skill in adapting complex imagery to a three-dimensional, rectilinear surface. Inlays of abalone or opercula added shimmering highlights, particularly for eyes, enhancing the spiritual potency of the depicted figures.

VII. Cultural Significance and Legacy

Bentwood boxes were far more than utilitarian objects; they were integral to the social, economic, and spiritual fabric of Northwest Coast societies:

• Indicators of Wealth and Status: The acquisition and display of elaborately carved and painted boxes, especially those filled with valuable goods, were central to demonstrating wealth and status, particularly during Potlatch ceremonies.
• Containers of History and Identity: The crest designs on boxes served as visual genealogies, recounting ancestral connections and mythical origins, reinforcing individual and clan identity.
• Blend of Utility and Artistry: They perfectly exemplify the Northwest Coast ethos where even the most practical objects were imbued with profound artistic and spiritual meaning, blurring the lines between art and craft.
• Spiritual Connection: The cedar itself, as a sacred material, contributed to the spiritual significance of the boxes. The animals and beings depicted on them represented spiritual patrons, transformers, or ancestors.

Despite the profound disruptions of colonization, the tradition of bentwood box making has endured. Contemporary Indigenous artists continue to master the ancient techniques, creating new boxes that honor their heritage while addressing modern themes. These boxes are highly prized in museums and private collections worldwide, serving as enduring symbols of the unparalleled artistry, resilience, and cultural depth of the Northwest Coast Native American peoples.

VIII. Conclusion

Northwest Coast Native American bentwood boxes represent a zenith of indigenous technological innovation and artistic expression. From the careful selection of a cedar plank to the precise kerfing, steam-bending, and intricate formline decoration, each step in their creation is a testament to generations of accumulated knowledge and skill. These boxes were not merely containers but vital components of daily life, ceremonial practice, and cultural identity, embodying the spiritual connection to the land and the rich narrative traditions of the peoples who created them. As objects that seamlessly fuse function with profound artistic and cultural meaning, bentwood boxes remain a powerful and enduring legacy of the Indigenous nations of the Northwest Coast.