This earthenware bowl, which has a shallow dish-like form supported by a very short pedestal base, is a very traditional Khampti craft of the indigenous Tai-speaking community of eastern Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, in India. This bowl was found from Assam and reflects Khampti people's matured clay pottery making involved in both utility and ritualistic practices. The bowl is made from local earthen clay and shaped by hand, then fired in an open traditional kiln. Its shallow interior and widely open mouth make it suitable for wan-taasa or for offering food, a herbal mixture, or ceremonial items, as offerings during religious and domestic rituals. The short pedestal lifts the bowl for easy access but at the same time adds dignity to the article, often associated with sacred or formal usage, in the Khampti context.
These earthenware dishes have a meaning beyond their use; they are little emblems of the Khampti way of life and the environment. Pottery is an intergenerational tradition for many in this community. Women and the older generation take pride in teaching the young, and most of these techniques have remained untouched by industrialization. This earthen bowl is a true witness to the minimalist elegance and sustainable environment that are present in the indigenous craft traditions. The form and function of this bowl are compliant with how the Khampti people believe in simplicity and spirituality in harmony with nature.