Rare Large 18th Century Lingam Singing Bowl – Perfect Pitch G#3 – Inscription

This is a rare and substantial Lingam Singing Bowl dating from the 18th Century.  Heavier and thicker than usual, it  has high-sided walls with a sheered lip and a flat bottom.  At its centre there is a pointed lingam surrounded by circles, with a deep matching naval or yoni underneath.  Two bands of tiny dots decorate the outer rim.

There is a deeply incised inscription on the outer wall, probably in an old Farsi script.  It reads Baleen Maad or Baalin Maad, the meaning of which is unknown.   Very few bowls carry inscriptions.  They are a sign of the high esteem in which a bowl was held by a former keeper.

The fundamental note is a fabulous perfect pitch third octave G#3 (207Hz) when struck with a padded mallet or played around the rim with a suede ringer.  The rim note changes to a fifth octave D5 (594Hz) with a wooden ringer.

This wonderful lingam is in excellent structural condition, clean, free of stains and blemishes.  It has considerable presence and a particularly nice exterior colour…a deep golden bronze mottled with emerald coppery-green hammer marks.

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