Bangladeshi Carved Bowls

Bangladeshi carved Singing Bowls are true works of art that would grace any collection!  Virtually their entire outer surface is exquisitely hand-engraved with deities, birds and animals, or complex and beautiful geometric floral motifs based on traditional carpet designs. They invariably have wonderful singing voices because only the finest bowls are selected due to the amount of time invested in the artwork.  The engraving can take a skilled artisan several months to complete a single large Jambati bowl.  This intricate work adds considerably to a bowl’s value and the status of its owner. 

Large superior quality carved Jambati or Lingam bowls typically date from the 19th century, but the carving may be later.  The bowls are usually sourced in India or Nepal, but are always carved by Bangladeshi craftsmen in their home country of Bangladesh.  Bowl carving is a highly specialized skill that has been practiced for at least a century by just a few craft families, and this accounts for their scarcity.  

The best examples are likely to have been commissioned by, or for, a temple or monastery, for use on important ceremonial occasions, while a smaller bowl might be for a local shrine or a special wedding gift for a high status couple.  

Antique carved Bangladeshi bowls are extremely scarce and difficult to source. They are highly prized by international singing bowl collectors, and always command a high price in Bangladesh and the West when available. They look wonderful on display, sound amazing when struck or played, and one can hardly imagine a more impressive centerpiece of any ceremony or sacred ritual!

Important Note: A few large hand-forged Jambati bowls are still carved in the traditional way today.  They are new bowls commissioned in Bangladesh by top Himalayan bowl dealers for sale to their wealthy international clients, often at exorbitant prices.  These brand new bowls are beautiful decorative objects, but lack the character, complex sonic qualities, and the look and feel of genuine antique bowls.  There are also some poor quality newly-carved bowls entering the market, produced by Indian and Nepali craftsmen, and often sold in online auction sites as antique.  Genuine antique Bangladeshi carved bowls are rarely available, so  ‘Buyer Beware’, and only buy from a trusted source!