A very good piece of work from the wooden crafts masters of the Lotha Naga tribe in Nagaland, India, this traditional wooden plate is hewn out of a single piece of wood. This plate stands on four slightly bent legs that lift it from the ground; the bended legs give it a metaphorical advantage as well as practical use. The ends of the legs rest on a circular base to lend stability to the plate and make it easier to use for communal meals or ceremonial feasts. Shallow depth serves the purpose well of dishing out dry items of food, for example, rice and smoked meat or vegetables-the typical foods of the Lotha Naga diet.
The plate design is a signature of the deep-rootedness of the tribe in nature and traditional woodcraft techniques. The slightly bent legs provide more than mere structural support: they provide aesthetic merit, an eye for detail by artisans, and the blending of function with beauty. The fact that such plates are made by carving a single piece of wood indicates how resourcefully and sustainably the Lotha Naga use locally available materials. Such plates would serve as talismans at the sites of social gatherings, reaffirming the values of society and common good. The simple yet effective design is reflective of the Lotha Naga approach to their lives-things they use daily are both practical and meaningful.