Almost intact bronze vessel handle, perhaps of a pan-shaped phiale or a lekanis. The junction of the handle to the vessel is in the form of an extremely elaborate palmette.
The handle consists of a thin stem that curves slightly and ends in a swan’s head. The bird turns its head downwards where he has spotted a partially preserved, curled up snake and gets ready to attack it.
De Ridder, A., Bronzes Trouvés sur l' Acropole d'Athènes, Paris, 1896, σελ. 77, εικ. 50, αρ. κατ. 230 Jantzen, U., Griechische Griff-Phialen, Berlin, 1958, σελ. 27 υποσημ. 11 Mallwitz, A., Bericht über die Ausgrabungen in Olympia 1966-1976, Olympia-Bericht X, Berlin, 1981, σελ. 140 υποσημ. 95 Wagner, C., Dedication Practices on the Athenian Acropolis, 8th to 4th centuries B.C, University of Oxford, 1997, σελ. 152 Tarditi, C., Bronze Vessels from the Acropolis: Style and Decoration in Athenian Production between the Sixth and Fifth Centuries BC, Thiasos Monografie 7, Roma, 2016, σελ. 202-203, 286, 300, 313, 315, αρ. κατ. 7145