Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 100 to 300 CE. Wow! A remarkably rare and quite breathtaking eccentric flint or blade hand-knapped from a sizable slab of lustrous black obsidian in the form of a stylized dog or canine. Crescent shaped, the ceremonial weapon depicts the animal in profile with a long, arched body, a perky tail, short front legs, and a huge, protruding snout, all crowned by a curved ear. Eccentric flints were among the most technically challenging articles to produce, requiring the utmost skill of the artisan. As consummate works of art, their delicate nature prevented them from being used as cutting tools; instead they were regarded as instruments of symbolic value and were used for ritualistic ceremonies. A wonderful example that shows off the stone-working skills of these indigenous peoples. Size: 15.6" L x 6" W (39.6 cm x 15.2 cm); 13" H (33 cm) on included custom stand.
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.
Cf. Art Institute of Chicago, 1997.362.1.
Provenance: private Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-private Estate collection, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA, acquired 1960 to 2024
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#185677
Condition
Newer chips to ear and side of head and body, as well as some age-expected surface wear and abrasions on one side as shown, but otherwise, intact and excellent with lustrous surface and sharp edges. Great preservation of form.