Indian Oil Spoon with Naga Handle, Based

A cobra rears up at the end of the handle, hood spread, and a small bowl waits at the other.

This oil spoon with naga handle, based, is from Karnataka, South India, and dates to the late 19th to early 20th century. It is brass. Naga, the serpent figure, appears widely in South Asian art, and small brass spoons and lamps are generally used in household worship for oil and ghee. A slender handle rises to a hooded cobra with a small ring at its side. At the lower end is a shallow round bowl, edged with a leaf shaped, scalloped border. The brass has a worn, golden surface with some green in the bowl. It is 2.25 inches wide, 2 deep and 1.25 high.

A tiny snake, put to excellent use.