Description:

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. Skillfully carved from a single piece of stone, a marvelous janus canine-headed mace. Each puppy's visage presents bulging eyes, a protruding snout, and perky ears delineated in low to high relief. Most of us are familiar with the popular Colima pottery dog vessels, but canine stone maces, especially examples with janus dog heads, are a more unusual find. A mace head like this was almost certainly created for ceremonial use rather than as a real weapon, likely buried with its owner or a prominent warrior to honor and accompany him in the next world. Size: 4" L x 2.875" H (10.2 cm x 7.3 cm)

Provenance: private Colgate, Wisconsin, USA collection, acquired 1970s to 1990s; ex-private John Montovan collection, Dekalb, Illinois, USA

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#156767

  • Condition: Nicks, minor pitting, and coarse encrustations to both heads and midsection, otherwise intact and very good. Nice canine detailing across both heads. “Colima” written in black ink atop white surface material.

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July 30, 2020 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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