Metals content – fact and fiction

Singing bowls made in the Himalayas today are all mainly made of what is called bell bronze or high tin bronze.

A common bronze alloy consists of approximately 90% copper and 10% tin. Bell bronze is an alloy of approximately 77-80% copper and 20-23% tin. There may be some impurities in the metals in the form of other metals such as Iron, lead, zinc, manganese, even arsenic.

The best sound was said to be produced by heating copper and tin several times and purifying it of other metals. Copper is soft to work with and when you add tin (which is also a soft metal), it becomes more solid to work with. Tin is what gives the singing bowl its soft and vibrant sound.

Watch the singing bowl production video here:

American singing bowl retailer Joseph Feinstein has worked with a laboratory to test the contents of more than 100 new and antique singing bowls. All 100 bowls showed copper and tin content. Approximately 78% copper and 22% tin. A small amount of iron and/or lead could be detected in a few of the bowls. There may also be a few symbolic drops of other metals added, but it is often so small that it cannot be measured.

One of the first books on singing bowls, “Singingbowls – a practical handbook” by Eva Rudy describes the content of the 7 metals and has since left its mark on the entire singing bowl market.

As a buyer since 1992, I have heard many great sales stories from all over the Himalayan region and have believed many of the stories myself, as I did not know any better.

It could be stories of singing bowls made on a full moon and washed in sacred lakes. Or special 7, 9 and 12 metal singing bowls that should have a special sound.

I have asked everywhere I can get honest and real information and facts about the metals. What I have been told is that from ancient times there was a religious connection between the seven planets and the seven metals: gold, silver, mercury, copper, tin, iron and lead.

I’ve spoken to a singing bowl factory and they say that the sound is most optimal when it’s about 27% tin and 73% copper. All other metals do not make the singing bowl sound better. On the contrary, it makes the bowl less vibrant and vibrating.

Keep in mind that Nepal in particular is a very poor country where any story that can boost sales will often be used. The best thing you can do when choosing a singing bowl is to trust your own instincts and not be seduced by good stories. Listen within yourself, feel what feels good and right for you with each singing bowl.

Feel free to listen to different singing bowls and singing bowls on the webshop HERE