What is the significance of bentwood boxes?

Commissioned by the TRC in 2009, the Bentwood Box travelled with the TRC to its eight national events throughout Canada, where people placed personal items into the box to symbolize their journey toward healing and expressions of reconciliation.

Who made bentwood boxes?

West Coast Bentwood Boxes are amongst the most ingenious and versatile objects made by Northwest Coast peoples. Each box is made from one plank of wood that is steamed at three corners and bent around to form a box.

What is a Brentwood box?

Making bentwood boxes (also known as bent-corner boxes and kerfed boxes) is an art form that involves grooving, steaming and bending a single wooden plank of yellow or red cedar to form the sides of a box. The plank is adzed and smoothed to the desired thickness, according to the size of the box desired.

How are bentwood boxes made?

To make a bentwood box a single plank of wood in which three kerfs (grooves) have been cut, is steamed at each kerf, bent and pegged at the final corner to create the sides of a box. A bottom is made and pegged to the box sides. If a top is required, a lid is rebated to fit.

What type of wood is used in bentwood furniture?

There are many different types of wood that can be used, although ash and beech are generally the best because they can bend easily and do not crack like other, harder woods tend to do under the process.

What era are bentwood chairs from?

From the 19th to the 20th Century.

When did bentwood furniture start?

First created in 1849 by Michael Thonet, from Germany, bentwood furniture was one of the first designer-style examples of mass-produced furniture. One of the things that made it unique was its use of industrial techniques.

How do you bend wood with water?

How to Bend Wood With Water

  1. Identify the type of wood you intend to bend.
  2. Choose a fitting container that accommodates the wood and the water.
  3. Put water in the container and sink the wood in it.
  4. Heat the container and let the wood soak for two to three hours.
  5. Remove the wood, bend it and apply clamps while it dries.

How thick is the wood for Shaker boxes?

The thickness of the wider veneer varies from . 072 to . 095 – the width of the veneer varies from 3 1/16 to 4 3/8 .