МАЭ № 4105-9

Model of boat

Tlingit

early 19th century

Russian circumnavigations and half round-the-world sea expeditions

wood, paint

Length - 54 cm; width - 10.5 cm; height - 13 cm

The Tlingit people used hollowed-out boats made of whole cedar trunks. To make a boat, the core of the trunk was burnt out, and then it was hollowed out and filled with water tha was then boiled with the help of red-hot stones, Then wooden cross-bars were inserted into the steamed trunk and the outer surface was grinded to give it the form of a boat. The sides and the stern were built-up with wooden planks. The outer surface of the boat was covered with drawings of animal figures – its owner’s mythical patrons.

Ethnography of America