Cover or vessel for oil lamps made of earthen materials by the Binjhal tribes residing mostly in the state of Odisha presents a beautiful illustration of tribal skill of blending the usefulness with traditional beauty. It is a cylindrical earthen structure, serving as a protective cover for oil lamps, and made from baked clay, a most commonly used in rural and tribal pottery across eastern India. The body of the lamp cover has the three triangular perforations placed strategically for shining the light out from within the lamp. These perforations serve the other purposes of air circulation to avoid the extinction of the flame, but in addition to it, they produce lovely ambient lighting patterns used mostly on occasions of festivities or evening gatherings in tribal homes.
The mouth of the cover is open for the easy placement and removing of the lamp in it. At the bottom, engraved is a circular ring that lends the stability of the lamp and at the same time serves to be aesthetically pleasant. A circular groove can be found on the shoulder of the lamp cover, adding to the visual properties of the item, thereby signifying the scope of attention the potter has paid to details. Such earthen lamp covers are customarily used for religious worship, congregation in the community and for domestic lighting among the Binjhal tribes. The motifs that embellish these designed lamps are usually bedecked and cherished patterns that might have a connection with tribal beliefs and local motifs which have been passed down from generation to generation. This item proves to be a treasure of resources available with the Binjhal community in terms of earth, sustainable practices depending on utilizing the handiwork, and daily and spiritual life.