Rare Large Antique Lingam Medicine & Singing Bowl

Antique Lingam Medicine & Singing Bowl. C4 & F#5 (Root & Heart Chakras)

Weight 1 lb 12¾ oz (820g).  Size 8¼ x 2¼ inches (21 x 6 cm)

Sometimes described as a medicine bowl this is a large wide and very shallow antique lingam bowl of an extremely rare type that is thought to have been used for the ceremonial preparation of medicinal herbal compounds, as well as for playing.  This is a really lovely bowl with a character all its own. 

There is a beautiful lingam at its centre surrounded by two sets of concentric circles with some distance between them, and a lovely neat navel in the centre of its flat bottom.  It has a really superb triangulated grooved lip, and several decorative incised bands below the outer rim.

The struck note is a good middle C (260Hz) but the rim note using a wooden ringer is a fantastic perfect pitch fifth octave F# (740Hz).  A padded striker and a double-ended teak and suede ringer are included in the price.

The condition of this lingam medicine bowl is excellent; the only tiny cosmetic issue being a small light stain of no consequence on the floor of the basin, otherwise it is close to perfection. 

Over the past 30 years around 200 antique lingams have come my way, but this is only the second one of its kind. 

The first went to a British collector within hours (you know who you are) and I know of a rather similar bowl, slightly larger and heavier, that is currently for sale at $6,500 (about £4,140).  This may well be a fair price given its rarity.

However, I believe that my medicine bowl, with its perfect pitch, fabulous grooved lip, and a less common shape, is a far better investment!

{audio}lingam820med.mp3{/audio}

Listen: (4 struck notes and 2 played notes, the first with a suede ringer, the second with a wooden one).