About 30 years ago, I bought this thing for a friend and I’d like to find another one. Very hard to Google because of the terms involved.
The object was the size and shape of a charcoal briquet-- fit easily in the palm of your hand. Made of metal, probably steel, with a blackened, handmade texture, roughly welded seams, etc., earthy-looking and beautiful. You shook it and then held it up to your ear and you heard the most lovely, melodious, wind-chimey sounds. I remember the sounds being quite slow and deep, not quick and tinkly. There was a depth of sound that was mesmerizing, like low-pitch wind chimes falling in slow motion.
Years later I came across something like this at a craft fair, but it didn’t have that marvelous sound…it just sounded like bits of broken glass inside a shiny metal tennis-ball thing.
The creator of this hand held no-wind chime was in Colorado, I think. I made a point of keeping his contract info at the time, but I’ve never been able to find it. It was pretty expensive, around $100, which was a hell of a lot for a present at the time. I’d ask the friend about it, but he died a few years ago.
Can anyone give me a lead on this?