Simple steps to identify genuine Antique Singing Bowl

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The training with Mr. Sharma was splendid. He taught and shared us about contemporary practices. Even though the duration of the training was not enough to learn about therapies, I believe all the participants grabbed the techniques easily and they will execute them without any problem. It is mainly because of sharing method. We not only view the demonstration and presentation of the technique but we performed the techniques to other fellow participants as well. Therefore, this exercise helped us to understand how to execute the technique clearly and at some point the client's expectation as well.

In the training, Mr. Sharma not only explained the technique and theoretical background but also share about accessories and environment needed in order to execute the singing bowl therapy. He also focused on the genuine singing bowls. Mainly because the sound produced by the genuine one is far better than the new ones for the purpose of healing and therapy. He also focused that in the current scenario, antique singing bowls might not be available in the market because most of them are already included in the private collection. Therefore, the stores that claim to sell antique singing bowls are either from their collections or bronze singing bowl which is relatively old. These bronze singing bowls do produce similar vibration to that of genuine bowls but they can't compete with them. So, when buying antique singing bowls for the purpose of therapeutic interventions, there are some aspects that need to be assessed.

Steps to identify genuine Antique Singing Bowls

In his lecture, Mr. Sharma clearly explained the points to make sure that we are not cheated while buying Antique singing bowls. The points that he mentioned are as follows.

Material:

It is believed that Antique singing bowls are made up of seven different metals due to which the sound that is produced has soothing effects. In the present market, the new singing bowls are made up of brass and bronze. The brass singing bowls are shinier and look new but the bronze singing bowls are identical to the antique singing bowls due to the process of preparing the bowl i.e. hand beaten. Therefore, there is no chance the seller claims brass singing bowls to be antique ones. On the other hand, when we are handed over the bowl that looks like bronze then we need to notice other factors because it sounds identical to antique ones.

Sound:

Even though each and every bowls has its own characteristic sounds, the sounds of antique bowls are different from that of other singing bowls. Therefore, we need to play the bowl in order to learn about the nature of the bowls. He stressed out that the bowl which produces most beautiful, sonorous, enduring and vibrant sounds are the genuine antique singing bowls.

Special characteristics of the bowl:

Mr. Sharma focused that if the bowl has any special characteristics then that bowls have greater chances to be antique ones. Some of the characteristics are the phallic protrusion in the center of the Lingam bowl, begging bowl shape of the Mani, a Naga's pedestal etc. These types of bowls are not made in the present day.

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Designs in the bowl:

Antique singing bowls may be very plain and simple with no decoration while other may have decorative features. The decorative features are bands around the rim, two or three circles carving inside the bowl. Other decorations are dotted lip, dotted bands below the rim, and a necklace of suns or mala beads around the rim, along with the edge of the lip or encircling the inside floor of a bowl.

Physical Signs

Antique singing bowls have very long history. They are really centuries old bowls which have served for different purposes- storage vessels, begging bowls, meditational purposes etc. Therefore, the markings or decorations in the bowls will be fade away due to the usage. Particularly, if the bowl is used for household purposes then due to the vigorous cleaning the bowl's appearances will result in smooth and clean around the rim and inside the bowl. If the bowl is used for meditational purposes then the bowl's rim and lip decorative patterns will be erased out. The bowl may have tarnish in the body. These signs definitely suggest that the bowl dated back but it doesn't support to be antique there other factors should be considered.

 

Mr. Sharma suggested that careful observation is required to get antique bowls from the market since a majority of the people are getting the bronze bowl with the price of antique ones. If the above-suggested factors are kept in mind while buying antique bowls then the chances of getting genuine one are higher.