Large Antique Manipuri Singing Bowl – F3 & B4 – Suns

Antique Manipuri Singing Bowls have become increasingly rare in recent years, and this is a particularly nice example.  With a diameter of 8 inches it is considerably larger and older than most.

Its shallow wall has been worn silky smooth with years of service and cleaning, and some of its decorative features have been partially worn down, including the circle of suns (dots in circles) at its centre and all the way around the lip.  However, a band of decorative suns encircling the outer wall are still in evidence, as are the magical or ritual gashes (cuts) that are thought to have been made as part of the bowl’s initiation.

The fundamental note is a nice third octave F3 (172-173Hz) when struck with a padded mallet or played around the rim with a suede ringer.  The rim note changes to a middle octave B4 (488Hz) with a wooden ringer.

This antique Manipuri is in excellent structural condition, clean and stain-free, with a bright golden bronze colour.

A Tibetan silk brocade bowl cushion and a ringer are included in the price.