Description:

**First Time At Auction**

Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A charming representation of a dog, splayed out in a pose familiar to dog lovers, with his paws stretched out in front of and behind him. Perky, pointed ears rise above his head, mirrored in his pointed tail. Red and cream pigment gives his body a delightful geometric pattern. Size: 4.25" L x 1.9" W x 1.6" H (10.8 cm x 4.8 cm x 4.1 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-Triffo Collection, acquired in the 1970s

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#119632

  • Condition: Intact

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January 30, 2017 10:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000