White jade pendant "Eagle and snake", Qing dynasty, 18th century

Pendant made of white jade carved in one piece. The bird has a sharp beak with thin wings and is tethered to a snake. The feather details and features are very well represented. At one end it has a cord with a bead (posterior). 

This representation illustrates "The eagle catching the snake" which means that in all likelihood he will hunt. The eagle embodies high will, a prosperous official career and the word sounds the same as wisdom. There is a long tradition of representing metaphors and homophones in jade. An old saying goes, "Jade must have workmanship, the workmanship must be intentional and the meaning must be auspicious." And for example, if the eagle is combined together with a parrot, it means wisdom and strength. Auspicious forms and traditional themes generally use borrowed words, homophones and metaphors.

Size: 2.3 x 3.4 x 5.7 cm; Weight: 47 g