Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Tips On Identifying Authentic Antique Singing Bowls

By Harriett Crosby


Singing bowls are different from standard bells in that they are inverted at the top. They resemble a bowl because the opening is at the top. A mallet or a wand is usually rubbed against the inside of the bowl to produce sound. Originally, these bells were used by Buddhists during religious events. Nowadays, they are used in different parts of the world in meditation practices, alternate healthcare, relaxation as well as religious rites.

Historically, these bowls were used in spiritual events as an accomplishment. Their exact origin is not very clear. Some people insist that they were first used in meditation while others say they were used for spiritual transformation. There are no books that explain how these bells came to be but they are thought to have been around since the 8th century. They were made throughout Asia.

When the wand is rubbed against the inside of a bowl a sound is produced. The wand also referred to as a strike is crafted from wood. It is covered using rubber or leather. Different materials are used to make this kind of bells. They come in various shapes and sizes. There are many varieties of these antiques in the market today. It is hard to find the original bowls that were made in the traditional times.

Bowls are important for their historical value as well as their sound and quality. If you want to buy an original piece you need to know tips of identifying one in the market. You should have knowledge on how the authentic bowl looks like. It is only by buying an original piece that you will get value for your hard earned money.

You can use the appearance to tell whether a piece is original. The antique bells were made to be simple and plain. They contain very few designs and patterns. The decorations are very abstract and they have circles and lines. New pieces have designs that are complex. Some are made hard and rough in an effort to confuse customers. The original antiques were about 10 to 12 inches.

You can also check the material that is used to construct the bowl. Traditionally, about 5 to 7 metals were used. Precious metals like gold, iron and silver were incorporated. Most of the original pieces have clear spots of one material because the alloy was not mixed in the right way. Modern pieces are made from one material because it is expensive to make alloys.

The sound quality can also help you to identify an original antique. You cannot match the sound produced by an ancient antique. As a bowl gets older quality of sound improves. The genuine bowls have a very rich, mellow and warm sound. This is because they have strong harmonic overtones.

If you find that a bowl is flat and disharmonious then chances are high that it is not an antique. It is not easy to identify authentic singing bowls. However, with these tips it will be much easier to identify those that have existed since time in memorial.




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