A coiled rope from a German “craft” tracing board (Eklekitischen Bund 1811). I don’t know the significance. Perhaps the rope around the candidate’s neck? Is is similar to the coiled snake? Here we have a suggestion that the snake and the rope are interchangeable.
Detail from Feddersen D/67, p. 401. Tracing board of the Eklektischen Bund 1811.