Geometric Pitcher: Swans

c. 740–730 BCE

attributed to Swan Painter

(Greek, Attic, Late Geometric Ib-IIa)
Overall: 36.2 cm (14 1/4 in.)
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location: 102B Greek

Download, Print and Share

Did You Know?

The stylized swans lend their name to the otherwise anonymous decorator of this vase.

Description

A common shape in the Late Geometric period, the pitcher often attains large dimensions, offering the painter multiple zones for decoration. Here, standing leaves encircle the shoulder, while the neck and body bear wide bands with alternating squares of swans and swastikas. Also known as a hooked cross, the swastika appears frequently as a decorative motif in Greek Geometric pottery, without any clear meaning. The swans, though somewhat abstracted to modern eyes, likely represent one of many waterfowl species native to Greece.
Geometric Pitcher: Swans

Geometric Pitcher: Swans

c. 740–730 BCE

Swan Painter

(Greek, Attic, Late Geometric Ib-IIa)
Greek, Attic

Visually Similar Artworks

Contact us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, a detail image, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.