Handsome Blackened 11 ¼ “ Antique Jambati Singing Bowl – Supplied ‘As Found’

This handsome large Antique Jambati Singing Bowl is supplied exactly as it was found in the Himalayas, uncleaned, with every inch of its surface covered in the dirt and grime acquired over decades of neglect.

You may be surprised to learn that this is the condition in which many, if not most, antique singing bowls are found BEFORE the Indian and Nepali bowl dealers clean them up for resale.  They use a variety of means raging from power tools to gently abrasive materials, chemicals (for stain removal) and lots of soap and water.  Large antique Jambati bowls are rare and valuable so it’s worth their effort, and I have no doubt this bowl would clean up beautifully if desired.

However, some people are not too concerned about a bowl’s grubby appearance if the sound is great.  Indeed, I quite like a bowl to look its age and have its life-story intact.  I like the look and feel of its aged patina.  Bowls like this are often sold at source by weight without distinction…dirty or clean at the same price!  This is a heavy bowl so more expensive than most.

If I were planning to keep and play this particular bowl I would simply clean the playing edge with a fine grade wire wool to make it sing more sweetly when playing around the rim.  The struck note is great and perfectly fine as it is.

The fundamental note is a very nice third octave F3 (170Hz) when struck with a padded mallet. When played around the rim with a suede ringer the pitch changes slightly to become E3 (168Hz) but if the playing edge were cleaned it would probably be the F3 of the struck note.  The rim note changes to a fifth octave C5 (510Hz) with a wooden ringer.

This is actually a very rare and beautiful superior quality 19th century bowl.  It has a particularly nice slightly bulbous shape, a wide triangulated grooved lip, and a rounded bottom.  There are decorative bands forming a collar around the outer rim, and circles at its centre.  Apart from the aged surface patina it is in excellent condition.

A fabulous antique Jambati at a bargain price!  Keep it as it is…or clean it up and save money!

A Tibetan silk brocade bowl cushion, padded striker, and a ringer are included.