Snake

Snake is a string in which the pattern, or the bead form itself, builds into a continuous wavy line that snakes along the whole strand. The name is pictorial — the pattern or bead rhythm creeps down the cord in a smooth S-shaped motion, like a snake's body. The effect is achieved in various ways: by alternating directional carving, a diagonal lay of mosaic segments, or a spiral orientation of the grain's texture — but in every case it demands a carefully judged sequence so the line runs without breaks or stumbles of rhythm. Snake is worked with the pleasure of looking: turned to the light the wave comes alive and flows across the surface, making it equally a tactile and a visual piece. The surface is usually smooth or softly textured, the run fluid, with no sharp edges. The sound is even and soft, with a rounded tumble. The model's signature is its dynamic, moving pattern, which reads only across the whole strand, not on a single bead. The form shows best on materials with their own directional figure or good contrast — mammoth ivory with dark inserts, expressive wood, horn and amber — where the wavy line picks up the texture and heightens the sense of motion.