Themes
tribal artefacts
Storage & Utility Crafts, assam
Khailum, a dome-topped cane storage basket on four little stands, is more tightly woven and therefore is dust and pest proof, making it suitable for storing clothes. This storage basket is used among the Dimasa community while highlighting the accuracy of tribal basketry. The fine craftsmanship lasts for years while the functional design combines traditional weaving techniques and modern practicality. Joining the household staples, Khailum has sustained the Dimasa traditions of sustainable storage solutions, thus ensuring cultural continuity.
Khocha is a pear-shaped basket, finely made from split and whole canes. The weft and web design upholds the strength and durability in carrying the weight from apex to bottom through whole canes. It is a main tool for women's daily sustenance because Tiwa women wear that Khocha on their heads to carry vegetables and herbs. Khocha is an example of the greater understanding the Tiwas have of natural materials; they know how to combine functionality and aesthetic beauty in utilitarian crafts that are passed on from one generation to another. The kind of emphasis here is on sustainability as hand-woven crafts prove, therefore showing how these tribes can manage to balance modernity and functionality of the handcrafted object for its continued use in today's tribal life.
Karai-Sepas are purse-like objects woven from split bamboo strips to carry small valuables mostly used by the Rabha tribe. It is small, light in weight, easy to handle, and provides secure storage for valuables. The durability of the weave is an assurance of this daily use item. Beyond functionality, it stands for the skill of Rabha artisans in working with bamboo. This handcrafted article provides an eco-friendly alternative to modern-day storage facilities, preserving ancient techniques and the artistic heritage of the Rabha people.
Chepa is a fishing tool, spindle shaped, made from a single piece of bamboo, which is used by the Rabha community to trap fish in shallow waters. It is effectively designed for immersion and its built-in sturdy bamboo ensures longevity. A very practical and indispensable object for subsistence fishing, Chepa shows just how resourceful Rabha artisans are. This practice of making such utensils has been transmitted from generation to generation for sustainable eco-friendly fishing, relevant till date. Compact Basketry Technique is a sophisticated weaving method used in storage and utility objects like Khailum and Khocha. The very tight interlacing of cane and bamboo strips ensures that these objects are strong and rigid, pest resistant and long lasting. This particular technique is found among the Rabha, the Tiwa and the Dimasa as it carries age-old basketry traditions.
