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Antique Singing & Healing Bowls
A Unique Collection of Rare and Beautiful Sacred and Ceremonial Himalayan Singing Bowls for Sale
Antique Singing & Healing Bowls
A Unique Collection of Rare and Beautiful Sacred and Ceremonial Himalayan Singing Bowls for Sale
Lovely Manipuri Singing Bowl – F3/B4 Notes & Long Sustain

Lovely Manipuri Singing Bowl – F3/B4 Notes & Long Sustain

SOLD

Antique Manipuri Singing Bowl.  F3 and B4 Notes (Heart & Crown Chakra)
Weight   lb 11 ¼ oz (776g).   21 x 6.5 cm (approx. 8 ¼ x 2 ½ inches)

 

This is a large and beautiful antique Manipuri Singing Bowl with two very good voices…a third octave F when struck with a padded mallet, and a mid octave B when played around the rim with a suede ringer.  The rim note is particularly lovely and has a long sustain.  It is also very close to concert pitch.

 

In addition to its excellent sonic qualities this antique Manipuri has been elaborately and ritually decorated both inside and out.  The inside of the bowl features several decorative circles and includes a band of sun motifs (punched dots within circles).  There is also an incised line encircling the bowl about an inch below the inner rim.  The rim itself is also closely decorated with punched sun motifs.

 

However, it is the treatment to the outer surface that really sets this bowl apart from most other Manipuri bowls.   A series of deep gashes or digs encircle the bowl about half an inch below the rim.  They occur in seemingly random groups of between 5 and 8 diagonal gashes set within a pair (or band) of incised lines.  The slant of each group of gashes changes direction from one group to the next.  I believe these cuts to be ritualistic or symbolic rather than purely decorative, but their purpose or meaning remains a mystery.  Below the gashes is yet another band of suns set within a pair of lines, this time more spaced out than elsewhere on the bowl.

 

I believe this to be an older Manipuri bowl.  It is distinguished as much by its elaborate decoration as by its superb quality of sound.  It is in excellent structural condition, and is virtually free of stains and blemishes.   It has a beautiful golden bronze colour and is a delight to hold and play.

 

Simply a fabulous and characterful old singing bowl!

 

A Tibetan silk brocade bowl cushion and a double-ended teak and suede ringer are included in the price.

 

{audio}manipuri776.mp3{/audio}

Listen: (3 struck notes and 1 played note)

 

SOLD

 

NOTE:  This bowl is almost certainly one of a pair (or set) of almost identical bowls purchased together from the same source.  If they are not from the same set then there is a good possibility they are from the same forge.  The other bowl is fractionally heavier at 810g and has an Eb3 fundamental.  If you would like to keep both bowls together their combined price will be £800.00 (please let me know asp via the contact link on the toolbar).