The Earthen vessel is traditionally highly used craft items by Oraon and Munda tribe, one among the primitive tribal communities found in the Bihar. The Mundas have kept up with a very neat and beautiful culture and lifestyle that keeps agriculture as their mainstay. They have been practicing pottery making since long past and have made handy items and accessories from their local materials. This black clay pot is also a fine example of their skill.
The earthen vessel's neck is longer and wider; its spherical body gives the vessel an elegant form. Its round wide mouth allows direct access to whatever is contained in it for storing water, grains, or other food items inside. The bottom of this pot is designed with a round ridge-like stand; thus, it has permanent stabilities and a firm ground. This design has been thought through to hold the pot steady, even though it is placed on uneven ground.
What brings out the special quality of earthenware is perhaps the external smoothness and glossiness, thanks to the artistry of generations. The Munda potters use a combination of natural clay and firing under the usual method, thus imparting the black hue and the smoothness to the pot. The other characteristic of this type of earthenware pots is its glossy finish resulting from polishing the surface of the clay during the making process.
The earthen vessel has much utility in the traditional house and, at the same time, signifies the close bond between Munda and Oraon tribes and even the nature of their traditional way of living. It continues to serve as a valuable part of their cultural inheritance, representative of their practice and also rich custom.