Large Rare Antique Shaman Divination Lingam Singing Bowl – CP B2, Talking & Fountain

Antique Shaman Lingam Singing Bowl.  Notes B2 (Crown Chakra)

Weight 1.09 kilo (2 lb 6 oz).  Size 24.5 x 6 cm (9 ½ x 2 ¼ inches)

This rare shallow antique singing bowl with its button lingam was recently sourced in Nagaland in North East India, a region known for its diverse tribal cultures, deep shamanic and tantric traditions, and some of the last headhunters. It is one of several similar bowls acquired during my recent trip to Nepal, and I very much doubt I will find more.

This particular Lingam bowl is believed to date from the 17th or 18th century. Its low perfect pitch voice and incredible versatility makes it very much one of a kind, as it is capable of talking and producing fountains when played with a little water inside. The fundamental note is a low perfect concert pitch second octave B (123Hz) when struck with a padded mallet or played around the rim with a suede ringer.  The rim note changes to an excellent sixth octave C (1043Hz) with a wooden ringer.

This shallow flat-bottomed bowl has well-forged hammered walls with a decorative band around the rim. There is a small but pronounced button lingam at its centre, with a matching navel underneath.

It is in good structural condition, with a clean golden bronze exterior but with a patch of copper oxidization on the inside that is commonly found on older bowls and is actually much less prominent than the photo suggests.

This rare antique Lingam bowl is of a type used by shaman for divination, and on ritual or ceremonial occasions.

A Tibetan silk brocade bowl cushion, a padded striker, and a ringer are all included in the price.

{audio}lingam1.09b3.mp3{/audio}

Listen: (2 struck notes and 2 played notes, suede then wooden ringer)