The Saham is a wooden container traditionally used by the Rabha community of Assam and Meghalaya. Its dumbbell-like appearance gives it functional finesse and artistic pride. The design consists of elliptical pores carved on the outer and inner surfaces, which might serve the purpose of decoration, perhaps of grip or texture. Eleven ridges carved in the lower part of the vessel wrapping around the body serve an ornate and tactile finish, which may have aided in the grip or count towards the aesthetics of the artifact. The base is circular and roughly finished, perhaps to rest directly on natural surfaces, like earth or wooden flooring.
These hand-carved relics from a single piece of wood characteristically embody the Rabha's art utility. The Saham was probably involved in a variety of uses, either in a household or ritual context, for storing or serving foodstuffs or liquid. The decorative motifs intentionally incorporated into its design suggest that the vessel was considered a very special one in the formal patterns of household or ritual use.