Very Fine Colima Redware Seated Dog Vessel

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Exceptional Antiquities | Ethnographic Art

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 11, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-10-11 10:00:00 2018-10-11 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities | Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-art-3500
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• Lot Description
  Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, Protoclassic Period, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE. A sizable and particularly plump Colima dog vessel, finely-molded in lustrous redware and seated upon all four legs. The highly-burnished puppy has its rotund belly nearly touching the ground, and its curved back traverses downwards to an upturned, wagging tail. An alert head boasts a playful countenance defined by incised ovoid eyes, a curved nose with drilled pupils, a curving incised mouth, perky ears, and a smooth brow drawn into a flared spout. A wonderful example which exudes ample charm and character evocative of ancient West Mexico! Size: 13" L x 6.3" W x 11.375" H (33 cm x 16 cm x 28.9 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 vessels such as this one were buried in shaft tombs to protect the deceased and provide sustenance for eternity.
  
  For a similar example, please see The British Museum, number Am1921,0613.1: http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=658929&partId=1&images=true
  
  A similar example of a slightly smaller size hammered for $4,800 at Christie's, New York "Fine Pre-Columbian Art" Auction (sale 1775, November 21, 2006, lot 147): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/colima-dog-protoclassic-ca-100-bc--4821182-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=4821182&sid=68b1e5a3-a8f5-45be-a2a4-5082a484b00a
  
  A slightly-smaller and stylistically-similar example hammered for $5,700 at Sotheby's, New York "African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art" Auction (May 17, 2007, lot 221): http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2007/african-oceanic-and-pre-columbian-art-n08320/lot.221.html
  
  Provenance: private Honolulu, Hawaii, USA collection
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
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  #138262

  Condition

  Surface wear and minor abrasions commensurate with age, minor nicks to some feet, ears, nose, spout rim, and tail, with some fading to pigmentation, and fire-darkening on one area of back, otherwise intact and near-choice. Light encrustations, nice earthen deposits, and great manganese blooms throughout.
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