An asen is a long iron bar topped with a round metal disk on top of which figures are placed that represent the life of the person which the asen is made to memorialize.  This iron turtle in the bite of a snake would have adorned one such asen. We do not know what the significance of this would have been but we do know that it would have highlighted some important aspect of the person's life whom the asen was made to recognize.

Please take note of the photo of the full asen top to see how this object could have been arrayed, probably together with other objects, although on a much larger one.

3 5/8″ overall height x 9 3/8" overall length (9 x 24 cm); 6 11/16 x 2 3/4 x 7/16" base (17 x 7 x 1 cm)