Engraved Tibetan Singing Bowl

On a hammered bowl, the engraving is done after tuning: the design is added once the instrument has been shaped and tuned so that it retains its full resonance. A metal disc engraved before hammering would have its design distorted or erased.

However, an engraving near the base generally affects the sound less than one placed high on the wall or near the rim. That is why we recommend listening to the bowl rather than assuming its engraving has no effect on the sound.

A laser-engraved design is reproduced identically on every piece, making it easy to identify when comparing several bowls. A hand-engraved design, on the other hand, can be recognised by its slightly irregular lines, which make each piece unique. Even an etched design is first drawn by hand in wax before the acid bath.

These signs can guide you. However, none of them constitutes definitive proof on its own. That’s why it’s best to consider several signs rather than rely on a single clue, especially since a large hammered bowl covered in fine engravings and offered at a very low price should raise your suspicions.

To care for an engraved bowl, we recommend dusting it with a soft microfibre cloth without rubbing the designs, as shallow chemical engravings can wear away over time. If you wish to polish it, use small circular motions, taking care not to clog the recessed areas of the design. Steel wool and sand, however, should be reserved for extreme cases, as they may remove the patina and damage the engravings.

Yes, the intricacy of the engraving affects the price of an engraved bowl, as does the engraved surface area. Etching is time-consuming and increases the cost of the instrument. As a result, an engraved bowl costs more than a polished or natural bowl of the same quality. Hand-chiselled engraving is also more expensive than acid etching, especially when the engraving is deep. A design that covers the inside and outside of the bowl all the way to its base requires more work than a simple Om syllable on the front. For a tighter budget, several of our engraved bowls are also part of our selection of affordable singing bowls.

Choose the design according to your intention: tradition encourages you to select the symbol that will best accompany your practice. A mandala or geometric pattern such as the Flower of Life can serve as a focal point for your attention, while the Om Mani Padme Hum mantra is generally chosen to cultivate compassion. During meditation, the design becomes a visual anchor on which your gaze can rest.

In Newar culture, a deity engraved on metal serves to honour that deity, and the design is considered a blessing, adding even more meaning to a gift. If you would like to give one of our bowls as a gift, simply choose a design that resonates with the recipient. This type of bowl is often chosen as a gift and to accompany a beginner’s daily practice. Tradition also associates Green Tara with compassion and protection.

Engraving can differ between a hammered bowl and a cast bowl: the latter may feature raised designs created as the bowl is cast. Its mould can form deities or mantras, and Sanskrit characters are sometimes cast into the outer wall. In contrast, a hammered bowl is shaped with a hammer and reheated between strikes, then polished and decorated by hand at the end of the process, meaning its engraving is added afterwards.

However, a cast bowl can also be polished and decorated after it has been moulded. The presence of a design alone is therefore not enough to determine how the instrument was made.