Golden Eagle with Rattlesnake
Private Collection
I sculpted this "Golden Eagle with Rattlesnake" from fossil walrus ivory.
Closeup of Head and Neck
Compared to Japanese netsuke my eagle is of very poor quality. I am aware of this. However, I think the head is rather striking and well done.
This fossil walrus ivory is a golden eagle holding a rattle snake. It has the classic butterscotch color. The alula* of the left wing contains more yellow than is typical. It is unusually saturated. It is more of a totem than a representation of a real interaction between eagle and snake.
*The alula is a feathered dagger-like ‘thumb’. It prevents the airflow across the wing from stalling. This is valuable at slow speeds such as soaring and landing.
*The alula is a feathered dagger-like ‘thumb’. It prevents the airflow across the wing from stalling. This is valuable at slow speeds such as soaring and landing.
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