Large Tlingit Box by Wayne Carlick

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• Nation: Tahltan First Nation
• Nation: Tlingit First Nation
• Artist: Carlick, Wayne
• Type: Boxes

Note: Prices shown are CAD 

What a Beauty! This box is made of wood from the cedar tree, the corners are cut and rounded (not bent), the lid is thick/solid and the carving is superb.

This masterpiece was made by Wayne Carlick, a member of the Raven Clan

Have a close look at the images, although they don't do it justice. It's carved on all 4 sides, very intricatley, very detailed, very clean. Traditional colors, still showing the beauty of the wood. It does show some minor signs of gentle handling and aging, mainly on the lower rim, but these boxes in this superb quality are hard to find!

Measurements: The box is 26" long, 16 1/2" wide and 18" high

The original Bentwood boxes were made by the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest Coast, including parts of southern Alaska, western British Columbia and southern Washington, or more specific: people including the Haida, Gitxsan, Tlingit, Tsimshian, Sugpiaq, Unangax, Yupík, Inupiaq and Coast Salish. The Bentwood Box is a uniquely fabricated container in which a single plank of wood is grooved where corners are desired. The wood is made pliable with heat and moisture and bent to form a four-sided shape. Wooded pegs or laces secure the two ends. Then the box shape is attached to a bottom piece of wood, which has been grooved on its edges to fit. The top, which is optional, is grooved to fit the sides. The boxes and chests were used as storage containers, the watertight ones for holding hot rocks and water for cooking, and the highly decorated ones as symbols of wealth. 

This piece is not bentwood, it looks exactly like they were made in the old days - the artist clearly has a lot of love for the art and it's very important to him to keep the tradition alive. 

Photos of This Piece

About This Artist

Wayne Carlick, born 1958 in Atlin, British Columbia, Canada, is a member of the Raven Clan, and is from the Xooxhitan House. A member of the Tlingit/Tahltan Nation, he began his career in 1992 working with Tahltan/Tlingit carver Dempsey Bob....Artist bio and other available works »