Ref: 0009930-4: "Caduceus" Seal

This is a fine Italian seal that features a waxed turned wooden handle and a bronze disc engraved with a Caduceus.

An attribute of Mercury (Hermes), the caduceus consists of a wand surrounded by two intertwined serpents and topped with two short wings. It is the symbol of peace, eloquence, and commerce.
It is also the emblem of Iris and Aesculapius. It is called the "Arcadian staff" because it was in Arcadia that Hermes separated the two fighting serpents. An emblem of eloquence, it is essential for maintaining harmony. Serpents symbolize cunning, prudence, and diplomacy. The small wings are there to signify the elegance and subtlety of the orator's diction.