This serpent, made from traditional lost-wax casting by the Malias tribe of Gunsur, presents a marvelous aesthetic and is regarded as an important tribal icon; the brass sculpture portrays their pride in nature and their cultural beliefs related to animals. The snake is carved with a typical hooding, typical of that of a cobra; one of the most revered reptiles in folklore and tribal mythology throughout India. The very realism is accentuated by the detailing of the hood, dominating eyes, and pointed tongue. The body bears rhomboid patterns, a hallmark of Gunsurma symbolizing energy, movement, and cycles of life.
A crest, suggesting flow and texture, extends from the serpent's tail to the hood, signifying strength and fluidity. Such hidden meanings are inscribed here into the very art of the Gunsur Malias artisans, unseen yet very much alive in their creative spirit, giving the art not only an objecthood but a true heritage of the people. It is a simple piece of work that embodies the resolution between practical needs and complexities of symbolic meanings within the aesthetic balance of artistic expression whereby the age-old methods have been applied by the Gunsur Malias tribe to assure the existence of their culture.