Description:

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. An endearing Colima pup, splayed out in a prone pose familiar to dog lovers, with his paws stretched out in front and behind him. Perky, pointed ears rise above his head, mirrored by his pointed tail, his face looking upward with incised eyes as he barks for attention. Liberal manganese deposits across the surface too! Size: 8.25" L x 5" W x 6.5" H (21 cm x 12.7 cm x 16.5 cm)

Scholars know of at least two types of Colima dogs, one to be fattened up and ritually sacrificed or eaten and one to serve as a watchdog and healer of the ill. This plump hairless canine known as a Chichi or Escuintla is thought to be related to the Chihuahua or Mexican Hairless also known as the Xoloitzcuintle. The Xolo dog was named for the deity Xolotl, the God of the Underworld, and believed to guide the deceased as they journeyed to the afterlife. Colima figures such as this one were buried in shaft tombs to protect the deceased and provide sustenance for eternity.

Provenance: ex-Powers Fine Arts, Los Angeles, California, USA, ex Sid and Addie Newman, collected in 1950s to 1970s prior to 1980

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#126610

  • Condition: Old nick to one ear. Normal surface wear with a few scratches commensurate with age. Covered with manganese deposits.

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December 20, 2017 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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