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Tintinnabulum -

The Romans used wind chimes. Usually made of bronze and called tintinnabulums, they were hung in gardens, courtyards, and porticoes. Attached were bells, believed to ward off malevolent spirits. Pictured is a 1st century CE tintinnabulum from Pompeii, Italy.

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Evil spirits -

Wind chimes became popular in India during the 2nd century CE, and later in China, where small bells were hung at each corner of large pagodas. Tinkling in the breeze, the bells were originally intended to frighten away not only birds but also any lurking evil spirits.

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Wind bells -

Japanese glass wind bells known as fūrin have been produced since the Edo period (1603– 1868). Found across the country, those at Mizusawa Station in Oshu are one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Ceramic wind chimes -

Japanese wind chimes are also crafted out of ceramics. Pictured are a cluster enhancing a temple at Imari, in Saga prefecture.

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For good luck -

Wind chimes are popular across parts of Asia where they are thought to bring good luck, and are used in Feng Shui. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0)

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Feng Shui -

In Feng Shui, wind chimes are applied to creating sounds that generate a positive energy flow and accelerate good Chi movement.

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Tubes -

Wind chimes are often made using metal and wood, and shaped as tubes or rods. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Longest and loudest -

As aluminum is the common metal with the lowest internal damping, wind chimes are often made from aluminum to achieve the longest and loudest sounding chime.

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Bamboo -

The sounds produced by properly sized wind chime tubes are tunable to notes. With bamboo wind chimes, the bamboo cylinders serve not only as the case of the instrument, but as the resonator.

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Pitch perfect -

In instruments such as organ pipes, pitch is determined primarily by the length of the air column, because it is the resonance of the air column that generates the sound. The same principle applies to the wind chime pictured here. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Chance-based music -

Since these percussion instruments are struck according to the random effects of the wind blowing the chimes, wind chimes have been considered an example of chance-based music—music in which some element of the composition is purely incidental. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Aural garden ornaments -

Hung outside of a building or residence, these quirky instruments work as a visual and aural garden ornament. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Use with glass -

Besides aluminium and bamboo, wind chimes can be made from all sorts of materials including glass (pictured), and artisans can get very creative in shaping and designing them.

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Bugs and butterflies -

Attention to detail is very often exquisite, and follows a particular theme. Hard, brittle metal has been used to produce these butterflies that look like they're dancing with a pair of ladybugs.

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Favorite motif -

In fact, the butterfly is a favorite motif used in decorative wind chimes. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Sea shells -

Shell has long been a preferred material for use in making wind chimes. The sound created as sea shells gently collide against one another has an almost dreamlike quality. Ask any beachcomber!

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Capiz -

The shells of the windowpane oyster have been used for thousands of years as a glass substitute because of their durability and translucence. The shell is known as the capiz, and is also used to create especially delicate, almost ethereal, wind chimes. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Decorative -

Mini earthenware elephants replete with vibrant ceremonial jhools (saddle cloth) are a decorative feature of these wind chimes on sale in Rajasthan, India, during Dussehra, or Dasara, a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year.

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Dolphins -

Dolphins have long played a role in human culture. In Greek mythology, for example, dolphins were seen invariably as helpers of humankind, and were sacred to both Aphrodite and Apollo. No wonder then that this beautiful and playful mammal features widely as a wind chime motif.

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Ringing the bell! -

Speaking of Aphrodite, wind chimes made using heart motifs make wonderfully intimate gift options. Why? Because when the wind blows, your heart sings!(Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC 2.0)

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Wind chimes as art -

The wind chime has often been the central theme of contemporary art installations. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Chiming installation -

This elaborate example is found in Melbourne, Australia, where it intrigues puzzled passersby with its intricate design. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Handmade chimes -

Wind chimes are all about sight and sound. An instrument with an appealing visual impact and which emits a pleasant sound will sell. These lovely handmade examples are on display at Venice Beach in Los Angeles, California.

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Tacky -

At the other end of the scale is the tacky, bubblegum-type wind chime merchandise pictured here. Ceramic tablets extolling the virtues of the City of Angels with pink Caddy and palm trees found on sale at LA's Farmers' Market.

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Artisan -

A lot of care and attention has gone into the design of this attractive and graceful wind chime. The material used is plastic, cut to different lengths to produce an array of soft, variable sound. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Gemstones -

A more robust design is this wind chime made using gemstones wrapped in copper. Organic in looks, the sound produced is a tad more clunky on the ear, but nonetheless appealing. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

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Rustic -

This simple wind chime uses a combination of wooden beads and handcrafted bells to convey an elementary but rustic aesthetic.

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Sounds wonderful! -

Mentioned earlier on this list, bamboo works just as well sliced into different sized rings and strung together to produce a hollow tapping sound similar to that of miniature horses on the hoof.

See also: Bamboo: how to use the versatile material in your home decor.

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