Respecting My Ancestors Bentwood Box
Availability: Only 1 available
Red Cedar wood, Yellow Cedar wood, Abalone shell, Cedar rope, Acrylic paint
“The 4 Chilkat Faces on the side of the box lid., touch on our Tlingit ancestry through our great,great,great,great grandmother Anisalaga, who was a Chilkat Blanket weaver. The faces are stylized after faces seen on Chilkat blankets, and also represent our ancestors. The split Maxinukw, or Killer Whale design represents one of the main crests of my fathers tribe, the Namgis, our people believe some of our chiefs, after they pass on to the spirit world, transform into Killer Whales. The face of Kumugwe, the Chief of the undersea world,can be seen portrayed between the Killer Whales, who originate and reside in his kingdom under the sea. The Moon is portrayed between two Salmon, the Moon controls the tides of our rivers and oceans, the source of our great wealth and gift of Salmon, the Kwakwakawakw are known as The Salmon People. The Salmons eggs are visible between the tails of the Salmon. On either end of the box are two Bears , biting onto cedar bark rope, which serve as the handles for the box., the Bear represents the strength and wisdom of the creatures of our lands.” – Kevin Cranmer
16 x 37 x 18"
Price available on request
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- Artist Bio
Red Cedar wood, Yellow Cedar wood, Abalone shell, Cedar rope, Acrylic paint
“The 4 Chilkat Faces on the side of the box lid., touch on our Tlingit ancestry through our great,great,great,great grandmother Anisalaga, who was a Chilkat Blanket weaver. The faces are stylized after faces seen on Chilkat blankets, and also represent our ancestors. The split Maxinukw, or Killer Whale design represents one of the main crests of my fathers tribe, the Namgis, our people believe some of our chiefs, after they pass on to the spirit world, transform into Killer Whales. The face of Kumugwe, the Chief of the undersea world,can be seen portrayed between the Killer Whales, who originate and reside in his kingdom under the sea. The Moon is portrayed between two Salmon, the Moon controls the tides of our rivers and oceans, the source of our great wealth and gift of Salmon, the Kwakwakawakw are known as The Salmon People. The Salmons eggs are visible between the tails of the Salmon. On either end of the box are two Bears , biting onto cedar bark rope, which serve as the handles for the box., the Bear represents the strength and wisdom of the creatures of our lands.” – Kevin Cranmer
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Chief of the Sea Bentwood Box
Lyle Campbell
$3,750.00 CADYellow Cedar wood, Red Cedar wood, Opercula shells, Acrylic paint
Specific and unique to the Northwest Coast People is the bentwood or bent-corner box or container. A most outstanding item of the First Nations people, it is a made from one single plank of wood through a lengthy steaming process – a method strictly adapted by the coastal peoples.
The Chief of the Sea is the highest deity of the Haida ocean spirits. The Chief has great transformative powers and the ability to move on both land and sea, usually in his known forms; animal or human.
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People of the Eagle Frontlet
Barry Scow
$2,450.00 CADYellow Cedar wood, Acrylic paint
Includes stand
“People of the Eagle” Frontlet, masterfully carved and painted by Kwakwaka’wakw artist Barry Scow, represents the Chief and his people of the Eagle clan. True to form of Barry’s fine carving, this frontlet portrays the Eagle with Sun, and commemorates Barry’s link to his Grandfather, who was a Chief, and to his heritage.
A Frontlet is a forehead mask attached to a woven headpiece, worn only by Chiefs and high-ranking individuals in order to display status. This particular frontlet carries the Eagle and Sun motif. The Eagle position belonged to the highest-ranking Chief in the village.
The Eagle lives in the sky, or Upper World, and represents status, power, peace and friendship. Eagle is the Chief of the birds, an honor he shares with the Woodpecker. The Sun is a popular Kwakwaka’wakw motif, used quite regularly in their art. The sun can represent life and creative forces as well as warmth and healing.
To further establish his high position, the Chief practiced a traditional act of discarding his wealth in front of other Chiefs. Much of this wealth was in the form of copper. To break the copper or throw it into the ocean, symbolized that he and his clan were modest of their wealth and that the value of friendship weighed more than the value of material wealth.
To assist the Chief with this historical display of modesty, a subordinate was appointed. The assistant is portrayed below the beak of the Eagle, carved in intricate detail, as one can see in the teeth and tongue of the human face. Another beautiful component of this piece are the Chief’s people, delicately cradled in the beak of the Eagle.
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Raven Cod Lure
Luke Marston
$9,800.00 CADRed Cedar wood, Yellow Cedar wood, Cedar bark, Copper, Stone, Acrylic paint
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Ceremonial Talking Stick
Dr. Richard Hunt RCA
Price upon requestRed Cedar wood, Abalone shell (over 150 individual inlaid pieces), Acrylic paint
More images available upon request.
69 x 12 x 11″ (including base)
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Kwagut Gwawina (Raven) & Copper Making Wakes (Frog) Bentwood Box
Kevin Daniel Cranmer
$2,850.00 CADRed Cedar wood, Yellow Cedar wood, Acrylic paint