The predecessors of early Himalayan singing bowls were similar decorative bronze bowls produced in ancient Persia and Khorasan. The metallurgy of the singing bowls has been shown to match the earlier Persian bowls, showing they were made by the same techniques. The same construction methods and decorative motifs were used in both. The main difference seems to be the ability of the Himalayan bowls to produce a beautiful sound.
The earliest singing bowls were made with a complex folded construction where the rim was folded inward, then outward in a tradition considered a lost art for hundreds of years. The "circle and dot" bowls, so named for the ancient traditional engraving they employed, are one of the earliest types of singing bowls and may go back to the 10th century, or 1,200 years old.
There was a long period during which many of the best singing bowls were made. During this time, there was an overlap of techniques and traditions, with many types of bowls produced. Eventually the styles settled into the simplest and most uniform shape. During the high period, many forms were tried and the transitions from form to form can be followed.
The majority of antique singing bowls were produced during the later period. During this time, the multiplicity of shapes were simplified and the early folded construction method was replaced with simpler methods. The new technique was faster and allowed the makers to produce a much larger quantity of bowls. There are many times more late period singing bowls than early period.
The predecessors to early Himalayan singing bowls were similar decorative bronze bowls produced in ancient Persia and Khorasan. The metallurgy has been shown to match as well as the construction methods and decorative motifs. The main difference seems to be the ability of the Himalayan bowls to produce a beautiful sound.
The earliest singing bowls are known by their unique folded construction, decorative motifs and heavy oxidation. The early singing bowls were made differently than later singing bowls and the bowls of today. The rims were folded outward, forming a seam on the outside of the bowl near the top. After several hundred years, this fold begins to separate. The folded construction is considered a lost art.
A second wave of singing bowls was discovered through metallurgical testing. The late singing bowls are closely related to similar bowls from Southeast Asia: Cambodia and Thailand. Late period singing bowls are not folded at the rim but were made by the same alloy, indicating some continuity in craft. More singing bowls were produced during this period by a large margin.
Singing bowls were made in small quantities until the beginning of the 21st century when they began to be made in larger numbers than ever. Hand hammered bronze bowls are still made today, using the same alloy and hammering techniques of the antique bowls. Most singing bowls produced today are mass produced brass bowls which lack the sonic and vibrational properties of the hammered bronze bowls.
