Church Staff with a Serpent Head

An Armenian church staff dating from 1700–1825. It is a silver-gilt staff for priests, made up of a head and three bud-shaped parts.

The head is the spiralling neck and head of a serpent covered with scales in coloured enamel. The serpent’s jaws are wide open, showing rows of teeth and a long tongue. The lower part of the head is filigree work of fine silver threads. The three bud-shaped parts are divided into four sections and decorated with symmetrically arranged floral patterns.

In the photograph the head and one bud-shaped part are mounted on a transparent stand, and the other two are placed beside it.