Incredibly Rare 17th Century 11” Antique Jambati-Lingam Singing Bowl – Sublime Bb3

This rare and wonderful antique Lingam Singing Bowl is one of the largest antique Lingam bowls I have encountered in over 40 years of collecting rare bowls, and one of very few Jambati-Lingams.  It also has the most wonderfully sublime, sweet, and pure voice. 

With an incredible diameter of 11 inches and weighing nearly 2 kilos its enormous size, age, superior quality, unique form and exceptionally beautiful voice all combine to make it one of the most desirable and collectable of antique singing bowls, and its next lucky guardian can rest assured they have one of the rarest and finest bowls in the world.

The fundamental note is a third octave Bb3 (238HzHz) when struck with a padded mallet or played around the rim with a suede ringer G3 (198Hz).  The rim note changes to an unusually high fifth octave F5 (703Hz) with a wooden ringer.  The struck note in particular is utterly sublime and ranks among the top half dozen I have ever encountered.

When viewed from the side one could easily mistake this bowl for an exceptionally large early Jambati.  It has a gracefully curved hammered wall and a rounded bottom.  The fabulous  wide triangulated grooved lip and boldly incised decorative bands encircling the outer rim are a real feature.   Inside, at its centre, there is a pointed lingam surrounded by 2 sets of decorative circles, and underneath a navel or yoni.  Some black residue around the mouth of the navel  suggests evidence of the bowl’s magical safe-keeping past, probably to ensure a pregnancy goes full term.

This fabulous antique bowl was found in the Indian Himalayas bordering Nepal and is one of the oldest in my collection, dating from the 17th century.  Its superior quality and huge size suggest that it might have served an important ceremonial role in a temple or monastery.

It is in excellent structural condition for its age despite two tiny pin-prick holes in the bottom of the basin.  These are of no consequence and only visible if the bowl is held up to the light.  It has an incredibly beautiful patina and colour acquired over the centuries, and the look and feel of great antiquity.

Undoubtedly one of the rarest and finest antique singing bowls in the world today!  A treasure that would have pride of place in any collection!

A large Tibetan silk brocade bowl cushion, padded striker, and two different ringers are included in the price.

NOTE: The price of this wonderful Antique Singing Bowl will be reduced to £4,800 with the checkout discount code asb20%retire.

Antique Lingam Singing Bowls are sacred musical vessels and the rarest and most sought-after of all Himalayan bowls.  They typically have diameters of between 5 and 7 inches (23 to 28 cm).  Very occasionally one of 9 or even 10 inches will come to light, but anything larger is virtually unheard of!