NCMA Explore Mexico | Dog Effigy (Xolo)

This is a hollow sculpture of a hairless dog, or xoloitzcuintli (pronounced show-low-eats-kweent-lee). This is the animal that is most frequently depicted in Colima art. The vessel itself is zoomorphic, which means it is in the form of an animal. It has a reddish-brown finish, and its body is depicted realistically. It has carved eyes, and its mouth is open and showing the teeth in an aggressive expression. The dog’s neck and tail appear to have been restored, and there is a chip in its front left leg. https://learn.ncartmuseum.org/artwork/dog-effigy/