The square paperweight having floral designs is the conventional decorative and functional item made by the Santal tribes-a native group found in Jharkhand and odisha. This paperweight serves the purpose of a real work tool that holds papers but also serves as an artistic expression of the deep connection that the tribe shares with nature and the heritage coursing through it. The dorsal surface has also been exquisitely engraved with dense floral designs that speak of Santal craftsmanship. These are floral motifs, usually symbolic ones wrought out of the natural world, which form an intricate part in the lifestyle and spirituality of the Santal people. The gravings are more on precision and detailing, showing the skilled craftsmanship taught across generations.
The flat ventral surface is usually placed above, facilitating its intended purpose of keeping objects stable in place. The paperweight has wave impressions representing a common motif in the Santal culture on its sides. Such wave-like or flowing designs and patterns are understood as often standing for water-creanedness-belonging to the natural environment where the life moves and rivers hold significance in the tribe. This very integration of floral and wave design is indicative of the application of the Santal's arts in blending beauty with meaning. These things are made by artisans of repute among the Santal community who besides handling the highly prized things would very much be doing so with everyday necessities having the significance of culture and belief implicit in beauty.