Friday, December 27, 2013

Tips On Identifying Authentic Antique Singing Bowls

By Harriett Crosby


Singing bowls are a kind of bell that is inverted at the top. Because the opening is located at the top they appear like a bowl. Sound is produced when a wand or a mallet is rubbed against the inside causing a vibration. Originally they were used in religious functions by Buddhists. Today, they are utilized all over the world for religious rites, alternate healthcare, meditation practices, relaxation as well as personal well being.

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.

These bells are preserved for their quality and historical value. It is important to know how to find the genuine antiques that were made a long time ago. To identify something that is authentic you need to know what to look for. If you can identify the original and genuine bells you will be getting value for your money.

One way of identifying genuine antiques is by their appearance. Antique bells have a plain and simple appearance. They have few carvings and designs. They have decorations that are abstract such as circles and lines on their surface. If you find complicated designs chances are high that the bowl is new. Watch out for items that are made to appear rough or hard in order to fool customers that they are old. Original bells are about 10 to 12 inches.

You can also tell an original antique by the kind of material that is used to make it. Traditionally, 5 to 7 metals were used to make a bowl. They included precious metals like gold, silver and iron. Most antiques have spots and streaks of one metal because the alloy was not mixed perfectly. A modern bowl is made from only one metal because it is expensive to use many materials.

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.

You can tell a modern bowl by its poor sound quality. The sound will be flat and disharmonious. Though it is not easy to know the genuine singing bowls, you can use the above tips as well as the price to make the process easier.




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