"Astrolin" dark bronze table bell

At a glance

- Cast bronze orin bell, Takaoka Doki (高岡銅器), METI-designated traditional craft
- By Yamaguchi Kyujo (山口久乗), founded 1907; hand-tuned by ear
- Tilted at 60 degrees for easy striking; tone sustains up to a minute; 1/f yuragi

Strike this bell once and then simply listen. The tone builds for a moment, then gradually fades over the course of a minute, the sound shifting and settling in a way that is difficult to describe but immediately felt.

Made by Yamaguchi Kyujo (山口久乗) in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, founded in 1907. Takaoka's casting heritage dates to 1609 and is designated by Japan's Ministry of Economy as a traditional craft. Yamaguchi Kyujo is the leading maker of orin (おりん) bronze bells in Japan, whose tones can be heard in schools, railway stations and aboard Shinkansen trains. Each bell is cast, filed and tuned by ear: struck, listened to, adjusted, until the tone sustains for up to a minute from a single gentle tap. Research has associated the resulting 1/f yuragi (1/fゆらぎ) with the promotion of alpha brain waves and a sense of calm. The Astrolin has a streamlined, sculptural form in dark bronze that sits between a functional object and a piece you keep on the shelf because it is worth looking at. The 60-degree tilt positions the bell so the mallet strikes the ideal point without thought or adjustment. The deep bronze patina gives it a quiet luxury that develops over time. Strike it before meditation, before bed, or simply when the room needs to slow down.