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HOME :
Pre-Columbian Art :
Nayarit Animals : Nayarit Dog Effigy Vessel with a Human Face
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Nayarit Dog Effigy Vessel with a Human Face - PF.6297
Origin: Western Mexico
Circa: 300
BC
to 300
AD
Dimensions:
4.375" (11.1cm) high
Collection: Pre-Columbian
Style: Nayarit
Medium: Terracotta
$1,800.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
This little vessel has been shaped into the form
of a dog. It rests, slightly elevated off the
ground, on four conical legs. The head rises out
of the shoulder of the vessel; however, its not the
head we would naturally expect. Instead, a
human head graces the canine body of this
vessel. The facial features are clearly depicted,
with eyes and mouth suggested by incised
horizontal lines. The ears are also present, with
decorative earrings. A large hole on the top of
the head would have served as the spout. A little
nub of a tail protrudes from the rear. The entire
surface of the work was once covered with resist
painted patterns, remnants of which are still
visible, especially on the front shoulders and
back legs. These patterns enhance the beauty of
the work and may actually imitate the skin
pattern of the hairless dogs after which this work
was based. What is the link between the human
head and the canine body? Might this offering
vessel represent a shaman in the midst of
transmogrification? In ancient Mexico, dogs
served a variety of roles. They were
domesticated companions who served their
masters in life. However, they were also one of
the staple foods of the Western Mexican diet.
Discovered inside a tomb, it is almost certain
that this particular dog effigy was not meant to
serve as nourishment for the afterlife. Instead, it
is possible that this shaman companion would
have greeted the deceased and guided him or
her through the shadowy perils of the afterlife.
- (PF.6297)
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