Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. An endearing pottery vessel in the form of an adorable dog lying on its side next to a bowl of hemispherical form. Enveloped in black slip, the charming canine curls its body for 1 front and 1 hind paw to rest on the rim of the bowl as its long neck stretches upward displaying a narrow snout, delineated nostrils, ovoid eyes, and an incised mouth, all capped by a pair of perky, pointed ears. Size: 3.8" W x 3.1" H (9.7 cm x 7.9 cm)

Scholars know of at least two types of Colima dogs, one to be fattened up and ritually sacrificed 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 vessels such as this one were buried in shaft tombs to protect the deceased and provide sustenance for eternity.

Provenance: private Hidden Valley Lake, California, USA collection; ex-Leonard Auction, Inc., Addison, Illinois, USA, January 24th, 2021, Online January Auction (Sale #273), part of lot 123 (1 of 5)

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#170801

Repaired with restoration, repainting, and reburnishing. Expected nicks, scratches, and abrasions throughout, commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice with good encrustations on interior.