The Testimony of Hands:
Dogs, Dogs, Dogs!

dogs

Photograph by B. Bernard

The potters of ancient Mexico are famous for their dog effigy vessels. The ceramic dogs are typically found in shaft tombs of west Mexico. The tombs were excavated roughly 2,000 years ago. The ceramic dogs placed in the tombs may have served as guides during the underworld travels of the recently dead. Otto Schöndube has suggested, instead, that figurines of fat dogs served as symbolic food for the journey. Despite these serious purposes, the creativity (and even whimsey) of the ceramic artists is often apparent. Modern dog lovers are often understandably attracted to these ceramic canines for their own sake.

Each of the seven dogs shown above is also shown below. Can you match the dogs in the group picture with the individual portraits?


68.40.130, first view 68.40.130, second view

68.40.130, ceramic dog effigy vessel (two views)
Preconquest Mexico (pre-A.D. 1520s)
Gilbert and Dorothy Maxwell collection
Photographs by B. Bernard.

68.40.105, first view 68.40.105, second view

68.40.105, ceramic dog effigy vessel (two views)
Preconquest Mexico (pre-A.D. 1520s)
Gilbert and Dorothy Maxwell collection
Photographs by B. Bernard.

68.50.80, first view 68.50.80, second view

68.50.80, ceramic dog effigy vessel (two views)
Preconquest Mexico (pre-A.D. 1520s)
William J. Wilson collection
Photographs by B. Bernard.

65.24.170, first view 65.24.170, second view

65.24.170, ceramic dog effigy vessel (two views)
Preconquest Mexico (pre-A.D. 1520s)
North-Alves collection
photographs by B. Bernard.

68.40.132, first view 68.40.132, second view

68.40.132, ceramic dog effigy vessel(two views)
Preconquest Mexico (pre-A.D. 1520s)
Gilbert and Dorothy Maxwell collection
Photographs by B. Bernard.

68.50.49, first view 68.50.49, second view

68.50.49, ceramic dog effigy vessel (two views)
Preconquest Mexico (pre-A.D. 1520s)
William J. Wilson collection
Photographs by B. Bernard.

The ancient pooch shown above has different markings on each flank.


68.50.58, first view 68.50.58, second view

68.50.50, ceramic dog effigy vessel (two views)
Preconquest Mexico (pre-A.D. 1520s)
William J. Wilson collection
Photographs by B. Bernard.

If you're not yet tired of dogs, please click here.

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All content copyright © Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, University of New Mexico. High-resolution versons of these photographs may be ordered from the Maxwell Museum's photo archives. Please make note of the catalogue number. For more information please visit the photo archives web page


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