Lot 183
**First Time At Auction**
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Nayarit, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A terracotta dog, standing on four sturdy legs and presented in the act of giving birth, with a puppy's head appearing at the back of her body. An ovoid hole in the mother's head between two raised ears forms the spout of the vessel; the dog's face is short-muzzled, with an open mouth and narrowed eyes - this same form mirrored in the puppy. Bold, wide lines of red paint flow from the mother's ears to her front feet. Size: 8.15" L x 4.7" W x 5.5" H (20.7 cm x 11.9 cm x 14 cm)
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 Aztec God of the Underworld, believed to guide the deceased as they journeyed to the afterlife. Although we do not know the names of their gods, we believe that dogs in the West Mexican shaft tomb cultures had a similar role. Nayarit vessels such as this one were buried in shaft tombs to protect the deceased and provide sustenance for eternity.
Provenance: Ex-Harvey Collection, acquired prior to 1972
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#120203
- Condition: Intact, manganese deposits and root marks over much of body.
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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 |