Gathering - Bentwood Box
Gathering - Bentwood Box
5" x 4 1/2" x 4 1/2"
With wool, cedar bark, and copper leaf.
“In our culture in the past, the bentwood box was a storage place for the treasures of our traditional houses. Women would work to fill these boxes with precious items to give away at feasts and potlatches with the end result being a raising of status to their names, the status of their children and their house and chief. It took a lot of time to accomplish this. The box starts out empty....food, weaving, coppers and other items precious to us are added over time and given away to the people who attend the feast. Our names, rank and status are inherited through our Mothers' bloodlines. Through time, the copper will fall away from the boxes and reveal the red color. This symbolizes the bloodline.”
Marie Oldfield
CULTURAL GROUP:
Haida/Tsimshian
BORN:
May 12, 1956
BIRTHPLACE:
Smithers, BC
Marie Oldfield is part of the Raven clan in her Tsimshian heritage, and part of the Eagle clan in her Haida heritage. She is a weaver, and was taught by many of the elders living in Masset. Marie specializes in the Raven's Tail design. She has been creating cedar bark baskets for many years as well, but Raven's Tail is her true passion. Marie has worked with Haida artist Reg Davidson and Haida weaver Evelyn Vanderhoop. To date, Marie has completed three large Raven's Tail blankets, and is among an elite group of weavers who are reviving the art of large-scale weaving. In recent years, Marie has been creating works that combine Raven's Tail weaving with cedar bark basketry.
