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; $75 at Santoku NYC, which has a wide selection of Japanese-made wind chimes. 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; $181 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; $85, available in a range of colors (shown in a natural glaze). Above: The Onion Wind Chime from Nousaku is made of either gold- or silver-finished brass in the shape of an onion; $89 at Jinen.
Flowers have a special way of saying what words sometimes cannot. They mark celebrations, soothe sorrows, and capture emotions in color, scent, and form....
