Inuit Bent Wood Oval Box

Early 19th Century

5.875" H x 6.75" L x 5.5" W

Hand Crafted from Cedar Wood with no Lid in an Oval Shape with Two Rows of Stitching with Two Holes on each Side of the Rim with Braided Rope and a Bulbous Bottom

In Very Good Condition

Bentwood boxes are ingenious, often watertight containers made from a single plank of wood (typically red or yellow cedar on the Northwest Coast). The process involves Cutting three "kerfs" (grooves) partway through the plank at measured intervals, Steaming the wood to make it pliable, Bending it at the kerfs to form three corners, then joining the fourth corner with pegs, dowels, or lashing.

These boxes served many purposes: storage for food, oil (like seal or fish), clothing, tools, valuables, or even cooking (by adding hot stones to boil water or soups inside). These were likely used for personal items, grease/fat storage, or small valuables. While bentwood boxes are most strongly associated with Northwest Coast cultures, similar kerfed/bentwood techniques appear in some Alaskan Yup'ik or Inuit contexts, especially for bowls, buckets, or smaller containers.