How to distinguish Antique Singing Bowls from New Tibetan Bowls?
Differences between Antique and New Healing bowls:
- Antique Himalayan singing bowls are made of seven sacred metals that are alloys of bronze (copper, silver, gold, tin, mercury, lead and iron) which represent the seven celestial planets and the zodiac signs. Newer ones generally do not consist of all those metals. Most of today’s bowls are composed out of two to five metal ingredients. The composition of seven alloy metals iswas absolutely necessary to construct true antique singing bowls, since each of these seven metals are responsible to create the trademark seven sound waves. Like a rainbow displaying the seven colours, a genuine antique singing bowl displays the seven sounds one after the other in a long, elongated and elaborate tone. Without this distinctive characteristic, it wasn’t regarded as a real singing bowl in the past. Furthermore, it has been recently discovered by researchers that the tones produced from them also include several inaudible sound waves that penetrate our brain, but we cannot hear them. Using a special audio devices, we can measure these mysterious sound waves emerging from a singing bowl.
- Do not get distracted and deceived by seeing highly intricately designed patterns on the surface. Centuries old vintage singing bowls and related items were not engraved with such elaborate designs. Some antique singing bowls may seem plain and modest in their shape ,size and design, but are exquisite in their sound creating capability.
- Engravings seen on the outer walls of the singing bowls are excellent spots that reveal whether it is antique or contemporary. Usually designs like that of Buddha or symbolic gestures on the outer surface is a proof of a recent manufacture, as original singing bowls never engrave such patterns. Similarly, if the patterns look as if they were made in a hurry, then it is fake one because genuine ones are always feature fine skilled craftsmanship.
- Original antique singing bowls are usually very refined in their exterior. Rough exteriority is a sure sign that the bowl is newly manufactured.
- Most of the original antique singing bowls have an average diameter of about 10 to 12 inches. Those bowls available in the market having more thickness than that diameter is another proof of duplicity. Very big sized bowls are not antiques. Antiques are never found larger than 12 inches in diameter. Most large bowls are 10 – 11 inches diameter. Very large and heavy bowls are always new.
- Do not be deceived by seeing grime and rustic exterior colour on the singing bowl into believing that it must be very old. Indeed, nowadays many unscrupulous traders chemically treat the new bowls to give them an ancient façade. You only can assure yourself of its genuine antiquity by examining the sound created and metals used by the singing bowls.
- Newer replications of genuine singing bowls of antiquity always have marks of sandpaper friction. If you look minutely on the surface, tiny, parallel, horizontal, vertical and symmetrical friction marks could be noticed on the exteriors of these replicated fake bowls.
- Contemporary made singing bowls of today certainly do not consist expensive elements like gold and silver. Only the antique ones crafted by ancient craftsmen had these elements in them. Metallurgical testing is required to test whether the bowls consist of gold and silver.
- ‘Old is Gold’ –this phrase certainly holds true in the case of finding an antique Himalayan bowl. Matured aging process is absolutely mandatory in an antique bowl. Since the aging process delivers richness to the sound and brings beauty to the golden shade on the exterior. Beware of tricksters who sell fake bowls claiming them as antique. Sometimes they chemically treat the surface, burn them in fire or bury them underground for long to make fake ones appear old and antique. Only the quality of metal and quality of sound will proove their antiquity.
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