Characterful Heavy B3 High-Wall Antique Lingam Singing Bowl

Antique Lingam Singing Bowl.   B3 (240/242Hz) Crown Chakra

Weight 3 lb 3¾ oz. (1.47 kilos).   Size 21 x 10.5 cm (approx. 8¼ x 4¼ inches)

This is a large, heavy, and characterful high-wall antique Lingam Singing Bowl.  Its slightly rustic and lumpy appearance points to the metal-smiths inability to maintain a sufficiently high temperature during forging, a problem compounded by the thickness of the bowl’s wall.   The outer surface is full of interest; the upper part being smooth and shiny and the lower part matt and more textured.

A band of seemingly random slanting gashes encircles the outer wall at its midpoint, the purpose and origin of which I am uncertain, but they could be of a ritualistic nature.  

I personally find all this surface variety interesting and attractive, and I like the way some of it references the bowl’s genesis.

This bowl’s grooved lip is the thickness of its wall.  There is a nice mounded lingam at its centre surrounded by concentric circles, and underneath a neat navel in the middle of a flat bottom.  The interior is clean and golden, and looks like it has been cleaned at some time.  The outer wall is fabulously clean and golden, with bags of surface interest.  The structural condition of this antique bowl is excellent.

This bowl is a delight to play.  The fundamental note is a superb third octave B that fluctuates between 240 and 242 Hz when struck with a padded mallet or played around the rim with a ringer, both of which are included in the price.  The rim note changes to a fifth octave F (695Hz) if a wooden ringer is employed.

An impressive and characterful antique Lingam Singing Bowl with a beautiful voice!

{audio}lingam1470b3.mp3{/audio}

Listen: (3 struck notes and 2 played notes with suede then wood ringers)