Bone Carving - Slithering Snake

Carved from cow bone, a slithering snake comes alive. While the head and tail of this writing reptile are straight, its coils remind us that it is in a hurry to go somewhere: an image of power about to be unleashed. Hand carved in the village of Tampaksiring, Bali.

All of our bone products are carved from cow bone, or in Bali known as water buffalo. In Indonesia, as in other tropical lands, the water buffalo is critical to farmers: it provides milk, it is a "living tractor” that plows rice paddies, and is prized by families. When a water buffalo dies, no part of it is wasted: in addition to providing beef to the family, the bones are cured and then carved by talented craft artists. The delicacy of this work reflects difficult hand skills that are passed from generation to generation. 

Approximately 1" L x 2.75" W