Description
Hand-Carved Jade Snake Sculpture: The Serpent on Moses’ Staff
This jade snake sculpture is a miniature hardstone composition made by hand in our workshop in the spirit of Fabergé’s animal carvings. The snake is cut from nephrite jade of a pale, light apple-green shade, a color that is prized for its soft translucency and its living glow. The carving shows the scales and the smooth, flowing body of the animal as it winds around the staff.
A Snake with Garnet Eyes
The eyes of the serpent are small faceted garnets, only 1 mm in diameter. These tiny red sparks give the snake an alert, watchful look and a quiet strength, and they are visible only when you look closely, which makes the carving a pleasure to discover.
The Copper Staff and the Marcasite Rock
The snake coils around a curved staff of hammered copper, which has a warm color that contrasts beautifully with the pale jade. The staff is planted in a raw piece of marcasite that looks like a small rock studded with glittering flecks, as if sparks were trapped in the stone. The marcasite stands on a smooth plate of green nephrite jade about 5 mm thick. The whole sculpture is 13 cm tall.
The Story Behind the Sculpture
The composition recalls the story from the Book of Numbers (21:8–9). The people of Israel in the desert were attacked by poisonous snakes, and on God’s command Moses made a serpent of bronze and raised it on a pole: everyone who looked at it stayed alive. The image became a lasting symbol of hope, healing and the strength of faith.
Today it carries a simple but deep thought: rescue and renewal come when a person lifts their eyes above pain and fear and puts their trust in God. The serpent on the staff is a reminder that healing can be born even out of trials, if there is faith and hope in the heart. A snake entwined around a staff is also recognized all over the world as a symbol of healing, which makes this sculpture a meaningful gift for doctors and caregivers.
A Collector’s Piece
This sculpture is a one-of-a-kind work for collectors of hardstone carving, lovers of Fabergé-style animal figures, and anyone who wants a thoughtful, unusual gift for a desk, a shelf or a display cabinet. Nephrite jade is a tough stone that has been carved for thousands of years, and each piece we make is unique.
Why You Will Like It
- Serpent carved by hand from pale apple-green nephrite jade
- Eyes of 1 mm faceted garnets
- Curved hammered copper staff
- Raw marcasite rock base on a green nephrite plate
- Meaningful symbol of hope, healing and faith
- One of a kind: handmade in our workshop
Product Details
- Materials: pale green nephrite jade (snake), faceted garnets (eyes), copper (staff), raw marcasite (rock), green nephrite jade (base plate)
- Total height: 13 cm (about 5.1 inches)
- Base plate thickness: about 5 mm
- Handmade; each sculpture is unique
Care Instructions
Dust with a soft dry brush or cloth. Hold the sculpture by the base, not by the staff or the snake. Keep it dry and away from high humidity, since raw marcasite can degrade in damp air, and avoid harsh chemicals. Copper may slowly darken with time, which is natural and can be gently polished with a soft cloth.