Tibet, Nepal
Tibetan and Nepalese

Metal, wood, cloth
19th century
Diameter: 7.5 inches
Idiophones – Struck Idiophones – Bells

Tibetan singing bowls (also known as Himalayan bowls) are an inverted bell, supported from below with the rim uppermost. Such bells are normally bowl-shaped and exist in a wide range of sizes. They are often played by striking, but some known as singing bowls, may also be played by rotating a mallet around the outside rim to produce a sustained musical note.  Buddhist monks have long used the Tibetan singing bowls to accompany meditation and chanting.  In addition, some wellness practitioners (including music therapists, massage therapists, and yoga therapists) use Tibetan singing bowls during treatment. These singing bowls originated in China from an early form of bell called nao, that were played with the mouth facing upward.

This singing bowl is known as the Thadobati type which are defined by relatively vertical sides and a flat bottom.  The word thado means straight. The bottom is rounded but only slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening.  They are relatively deep, up to 5 inches.  This Thadobati singing bowl is 5 inches deep with a 7.5-inch diameter.