Bentwood Box 2
Artifact
Image
Video
Audio
Activities
LOOK
Look closely at this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box). Make a list of what you see. What questions do you have about this box?
LOOK
This tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) has a very detailed formline design that is centred on the corners of the box, rather than its flat sides. Why do you think the artist painted the box this way?
DO
Compare this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) with the other tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) (VII-B-560 a-b) in this package. Read the historical context provided on both boxes, and make a list of similarities and differences between the two.
Details
Date 1901 or earlier 
Materials - Cedar
- Cedar Bark
- Operculum Shells
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- This tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) was used for storage and transportation. The rope looped across its lid serves as a handle.
- A formline animal is painted over the box corners, so the design can only be seen from an angle. Its lid has an inlay of gwaahlgiidang ḵ’aal (operculum shells).
- This elaborate box was probably created for a person of high status who used it to store something valuable.
The sides of this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) were made from a single plank of wood. The box was used for storage and transportation. The rope looped across the lid of the box serves as a handle.
Its formline animal design is painted over the box’s corners — the whole figure can only be seen from an angle. Its lid has an inlay of three rows of gwaahlgiidang ḵ’aal (operculum shells).
This elaborate box was probably created for a person of high status who used it to store something valuable.
The sides of this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) were made from a single plank of wood. The box was created for storage and transportation. The rope looped across the lid of the box serves as a handle. Its very detailed formline animal design is centred on the box corners rather than its flat sides, which means that the box must be viewed from an angle to see the whole painting.
One side of its lid is inlaid with three rows of gwaahlgiidang ḵ’aal (operculum shells). The creation of tawt’aGaay (bentwood boxes) is an important technology for Haida people. This elaborate box was probably created for a person of high status who used it to store something valuable.
Haida artists continue the tradition of making tawt’aGaay (bentwood boxes) featuring formline designs today.
- This tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) was used for storage and transportation. The rope looped across its lid serves as a handle.
- A formline animal is painted over the box corners, so the design can only be seen from an angle. Its lid has an inlay of gwaahlgiidang ḵ’aal (operculum shells).
- This elaborate box was probably created for a person of high status who used it to store something valuable.
The sides of this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) were made from a single plank of wood. The box was used for storage and transportation. The rope looped across the lid of the box serves as a handle.
Its formline animal design is painted over the box’s corners — the whole figure can only be seen from an angle. Its lid has an inlay of three rows of gwaahlgiidang ḵ’aal (operculum shells).
This elaborate box was probably created for a person of high status who used it to store something valuable.
The sides of this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) were made from a single plank of wood. The box was created for storage and transportation. The rope looped across the lid of the box serves as a handle. Its very detailed formline animal design is centred on the box corners rather than its flat sides, which means that the box must be viewed from an angle to see the whole painting.
One side of its lid is inlaid with three rows of gwaahlgiidang ḵ’aal (operculum shells). The creation of tawt’aGaay (bentwood boxes) is an important technology for Haida people. This elaborate box was probably created for a person of high status who used it to store something valuable.
Haida artists continue the tradition of making tawt’aGaay (bentwood boxes) featuring formline designs today.
Summary
- This tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) was used for storage and transportation. The rope looped across its lid serves as a handle.
- A formline animal is painted over the box corners, so the design can only be seen from an angle. Its lid has an inlay of gwaahlgiidang ḵ’aal (operculum shells).
- This elaborate box was probably created for a person of high status who used it to store something valuable.
Essential
The sides of this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) were made from a single plank of wood. The box was used for storage and transportation. The rope looped across the lid of the box serves as a handle.
Its formline animal design is painted over the box’s corners — the whole figure can only be seen from an angle. Its lid has an inlay of three rows of gwaahlgiidang ḵ’aal (operculum shells).
This elaborate box was probably created for a person of high status who used it to store something valuable.
In-Depth
The sides of this tawt’aGaay (bentwood box) were made from a single plank of wood. The box was created for storage and transportation. The rope looped across the lid of the box serves as a handle. Its very detailed formline animal design is centred on the box corners rather than its flat sides, which means that the box must be viewed from an angle to see the whole painting.
One side of its lid is inlaid with three rows of gwaahlgiidang ḵ’aal (operculum shells). The creation of tawt’aGaay (bentwood boxes) is an important technology for Haida people. This elaborate box was probably created for a person of high status who used it to store something valuable.
Haida artists continue the tradition of making tawt’aGaay (bentwood boxes) featuring formline designs today.