Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Jalisco, Protoclassic period, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE; Nayarit, Chinesco, Protoclassic period, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE. A lovely ensemble of two hollow-cast and highly-burnished pottery puppies, each with four attenuated legs and a perky tail. The smaller Nayarit Chinesco dog is depicted standing with a stocky torso, tail curled up onto its back, and an opening atop the minimalist head, all colored with a pale-orange slip. The larger Jalisco tan-gray hued dog rests upon a corpulent belly with splayed back legs, with dark fire-clouded areas on its back, and an indented head that humorously resembles an anteater. A lovely study on different forms of playful pottery puppy dogs! Size of largest (tan-gray color): 7.625" L x 4.125" H (19.4 cm x 10.5 cm).

Scholars know of at least two types of Jalisco/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. Jalisco and Nayarit figures such as this one were buried in shaft tombs to protect the deceased and provide sustenance for eternity.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private Nevada, USA collection; ex-Dr. David Harner collection, Arkansas, USA, acquired 1950s-1960s, items #131 and no #. Exhibited at the Marjorie Barrick Museum, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), 1980s and late 1990s

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#133917

Smaller dog has ancient losses to both ears, and repair to tail with minute chips along break line. Both pieces have surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, light roughness to undersides of bodies and feet, small nicks to rim of head opening, and a couple of dark areas of discoloration to larger dog. Light earthen deposits on both dogs with great mineral deposits on smaller dog.