Years back, I learned about the lesser-known sonambient work of Italian-American designer Harry Bertoia. Bertoia, celebrated for his now-iconic wire mesh seating, created a series of sound sculptures in the 1960s with sonic and kinetic properties. Discovering his sound art led me to reconsider the aural pleasantries of the wind chime. I’ve found that I especially gravitate toward Japanese wind bells, hung at the entrance of the home or from surrounding trees, which are thought to bring good fortune and grant wishes to the inhabitants of the home.
The sense of sound in the garden is often overlooked but shouldn’t be. Here, we’ve profiled our favorite wind chimes to help grant wishes while bringing sound back into the garden.
Above: Designed by Oji Masanori for Nousaku, the Tsubomi Chime is made of solid brass with a thin clapper disk that produces a gentle ringing sound when a breeze passes by. Designed with a trio of cotton pompoms, the chime is designed for indoor spaces and covered outdoor spaces/porches; $110 at Nalata Nalata.
Above: The EOS Wind Chime is made of fine stoneware with a white satin glaze and durable cotton rope designed for the outdoors; $24 for a single strand (shown in a group of three) at Stag & Manor.
Above: The Owara Kaze No Bon Wind Chime in brass is made in Takaoka City in the Toyama Prefecture of Japan by a company founded in 1609; $94 at The Good Liver, which stocks a wide selection of wind chimes in various finishes and shapes.
Above: The Edo Glass Bell from Maison Martin Margiela is a longstanding favorite. An interpretation of traditional Japanese wind bells, the blown glass bell is available in three sizes. But as far as sourcing online, we can only find the medium available for €51 at Atelier d’Exercices.
Above: From Wind River Chimes, the Corinthian Bells 44-Inch Wind Chime is a classic western-style chime available in a range of finishes. Visit Wind River Chimes for a sample of the sound; $167.98 for the 44-inch size.
Above: The Porcelain Wind Chime from Pigeon Toe Ceramics in Portland, Oregon, is made from a series of ceramic disks strung together on a deerskin lace cord. Shown in a natural glaze for $99 at Schoolhouse.
Above: The Onion Wind Chime from Nousaku is made of either gold- or silver-finished brass in the shape of an onion; $93 at Jinen.
Above: Cosanti bells are made from molds by Italian architect Paolo Soleri originally for his futuristic Cosanti buildings in the mid-1950s in Paradise Valley, Arizona. The #118B Bronze Bell with a patina finish is $595 at Cosanti Originals. For more see our post Object of Desire: Architect-Designed Bronze Wind Bells from Cosanti.
Above: Designed by Masanori Masuda, the Japanese Iron Wind Chime is made of iron, paper, and thread for $60CAD at Mjölk.
Above: The 44-Inch Cloud Nine Wind Chime, shown in silver, is a straightforward wind-catcher made with 6 aluminum tubes, a styrene clapper, and an aluminum ring; $119 at Pottery Barn.
Above: The Nijiro Furin Chime by Sugahara Glass is coated in such a way as to mimic the iridescence of an everlasting soap bubble; $165 at Rikumo.
Above: At Pottery Barn, the Sanctuary Bells Wind Chime Collection, shown in brass, is designed to resonate with the hum of Tibetan singing bowls; $79.
Above: From Ceramic Pix on Etsy, the 9 Tier Ceramic Wind Chime is handmade with nine white matte clay bells on a long piece of faux leather; $85 on Etsy.
Above: From Michele Quan, the MQuan Small Round Thrown Bell Crescent makes a gentle chiming sound thanks to a wooden knocker and ceramic bell; $305 at Cedar & Hyde.
For more outdoor accessories, see our posts:
