A common subject in Colima sculpture is the dog, one of the earliest domesticated animals. Dogs served the Colima as pets, guardians, and hunting aides. Some less fortunate canines were bred and fattened specifically as food for humans. Many of the dogs depicted in Colima sculpture have rounded bodies and distended belly, possibly an allusion to this culinary function. Other Colima dogs are shown in a variety of moods and poses—from fearsome and ferocious, to sleeping and sedate. Portrayed as if it has just turned its head in response to a sound, this lifelike dog exemplifies the quality of movement that is characteristic of many Colima sculptures.
The dogs that were companions to the Colima probably were of a hairless breed, a type uncommon in Europe, as noted by the Spanish when they arrived in Mexico and South America. Hairless dogs thrive in warmer climates, and they are found mostly along the coastal towns
of Mexico and South America. Through their study of Colima dog sculptures, archaeologists have determined that hairless dogs in Mexico predated their South American counterparts.
Terra-cotta vessels and sculptures are the most abundant remnants of the indigenous cultures of the early Americas. Buried deep in underground tombs, they have survived the centuries to provide clues about daily life in ancient civilizations. Colima sculptures reveal a mastery of ceramic techniques. Handcrafted from clay without molds or internal structural supports, they required the expertise of highly skilled artisans. The burnished red-brown clay of this dog is typical of Colima art, with surface detail created by incised lines rather than painted decoration.
Colima sculpture is named after the western Mexico state and city in which it was discovered. In the native Indian dialect, Colima means “god of fire who rules.” The Colima god of fire is the Volcán de Fuego de Colima—Fire Volcano of Colima—which is Mexico’s most active and most dangerous volcano. Located just 25 miles from the fiery mountain, the city of Colima endures the constant threat of a devastating eruption.
The Colima people left no written records, and little is known about their mysterious civilization, which is estimated to have inhabited the western region of Mexico between 300 B.C. and A.D. 300. Most of our information is derived from the subterranean tombs where the Colima were buried. Carved deep into the rock, these multi-chambered tombs were reached by long vertical shafts—some plunging 45 feet. Families deposited their dead within each tomb over several generations, equipping their relatives with terra-cotta vessels and sculptures for the afterlife. Some tombs are quite large, containing dozens of ceramic objects as well as stone and shell offerings. Among such funerary offerings are complex sculptures representing people, animals, birds, and even fruits. Figures of dogs—such as this lively example—have been found frequently in Colima shaft tombs, perhaps providing companionship to the dead in the afterlife.
