Gan Bronze Ring: Depiction of Serpent

Knot of dark metal that has clearly decided to loop twice before explaining itself.

This bronze ring depicting a serpent is Gan, from Burkina Faso, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. Small bronze rings in Burkina Faso were cast by the lost-wax technique, and the coiling form of a snake suits the circular shape of a ring. Heavy ring twists back over itself and meets a ridged, lumpy stem below, as if caught mid-coil. The surface is black and glossy in places, with incised lines along the loop. It rests on a square black stand. It is 2 inches high and 1 in diameter.

Not every shape needs to make sense to earn its stand.