This most exclusive and exemplary clay strainer is a common household utility tool among the Khampti tribe, an ethnic community made up of the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, India. These Khamtis are known for their rich Buddhist cultural heritage, crafts, and sustainable practices, which are mainly added to their daily life through very beautiful handiwork using natural materials, such as clay and bamboo. The strainer is barrel-shaped in form with a flat denoting a large mouth for some easy pouring and filtering of liquefied or semi-solid food stuff. The body is made using baked clay, which imparts it properties of resilience and the ability to keep things cooler. What makes the piece particularly special is that base with the strainer.
The bottom part is not made of solid clay but carefully knitted using finely split bamboo strips instead. Such a weaving of bamboo forms a natural sieve, through which liquid passes but retains larger particles, making it ideal for filtering fermented liquids, treating herbs, or washing grains. Unique to this is the combination of clay and bamboo, which eludes both resourcefulness and intimate knowledge by Khampti tribe members about their native field. They were also a representation to their sustainable, zero-waste approach towards their household tools, using biodegradable and locally available materials. Such utilitarian items are not functional; they also tell a lot about the traditional knowledge systems of the tribe. Presently, one can find such examples of strainers in the museum collections: Indian Museum, Kolkata, among others, as manuscripts from the material culture of diverse tribal India.