Fruit Serpentine Figurative Face Sculpture (224mm)

What sets this sculpture apart is the headdress. Two broad, fan-like sections rise from the crown, each cut with crisp vertical grooves that catch the light and frame the face below like a crown or formal headpiece. It is the kind of detail that gives the whole piece its rhythm, balancing the smooth, polished planes of the face against sharper, more textured lines above.

The face itself is pared back to its essentials. A wide, flat brow steps down to elongated, slit-like eyes that read as calm and almost meditative. The broad nose and full lips are carved with quiet confidence, while the jaw tapers to a narrow chin, giving the whole head a strong triangular profile. Seen from the side, that silhouette becomes genuinely sculptural, all angles and considered planes.

Fruit serpentine brings the colour to life. A deep olive-green base is flecked with black and warm golden-brown, with patches of ochre surfacing where the polish runs thin. The high-gloss finish lifts every shift in tone, so the stone feels rich and organic up close while holding its bold, modern outline across the room. Because it is hand-carved from a single piece, the mottling and grain are entirely its own, and no two carvings will ever match.

Standing 224mm tall, with a face width of 154.8mm, a hair width of 184mm, a thickness of 57.5mm, and a weight of 935g, it has real presence without dominating a surface. Place it on a console in an entryway, on a styled shelf among books and objects, on a sideboard in a living space, or on a desk where its expressive features can spark conversation.

Best for anyone drawn to expressive, contemporary décor with roots in traditional craft, this piece pairs the boldness of fine art with the warmth of natural stone. Add it to your space for a sculpture that brings character, texture, and a sense of artistry in equal measure.

Mineral Specifications

• Mineral: Fruit Serpentine
• Form: Hand-carved figurative face sculpture
• Colour: Deep olive green with black and golden-brown mottling and ochre flecking
• Patterning: Natural mottling, mineral flecking, and organic tonal variation
• Dimensions: Height 224mm, Face Width 154.8mm, Hair Width 184mm, Thickness 57.5mm
• Weight: 935g
• Lustre: High-gloss polished finish
• Transparency: Opaque
• Mineral Family: Serpentine group
• Composition: Serpentine-group minerals with iron-rich inclusions
• Mohs Hardness: 3–5
• Appearance: Stylised geometric face with smooth, polished planes, elongated slit-like eyes, broad nose, full lips, and a two-part fanned headdress with deep vertical grooves
• Display Style: Freestanding sculpture, ideal for shelves, consoles, sideboards, desks, or styled interiors
• Use: Decorative sculptural piece for display

Metaphysical Properties

Serpentine is often associated with grounding, renewal, and a clearing, restorative energy. With its rich green colouring, it is widely chosen for spaces that benefit from a calmer, more settled atmosphere and for those drawn to stones that feel supportive and revitalising rather than overpowering.

• Grounding by helping you feel more centred and present
• Renewal and clearing when you are ready to release stagnant energy
• A connection to nature through its earthy green tones and organic patterning
• Calm focus in workspaces, studies, or reflective corners
• Inner steadiness by encouraging patience and a sense of ease

Carved into an expressive face, it takes on a more personal quality, holding a sense of intention and presence while bringing a grounded, settling feel to the space around it.

History & Lore

Serpentine takes its name from its smooth, mottled surface, long thought to resemble a snake’s skin. Valued for centuries across many cultures, it has been worked into carvings, ornaments, and protective objects, prized for its rich green tones and the ease with which it takes a fine polish. Fruit serpentine, with its warm golden-brown flecking running through deep olive green, brings a particularly lively character to the stone.

This sculpture also draws on the celebrated stone-carving traditions of Zimbabwe, where artists have long shaped local serpentine into bold human faces and figures. That style blends realism with abstraction, capturing strong, expressive features through clean geometry and considered planes. The fanned headdress and tapered face here speak directly to that lineage, giving the piece a sense of cultural depth alongside its modern, graphic appeal.