Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 100 BCE to 250 CE. An adorable pottery vessel of a coatimundi eating an ear of corn - emblematic of the animal's association with agricultural fertility. Enveloped in red pigment, the cute animal bends his front legs and bows his head to feast, his spine arching as he raises his tail, which opens to the hollow interior of the vessel. His broad body is incised with petite dashes filled with pale pigment, denoting his naturally speckled coat of fur. Perky ears surmount his endearing visage comprised of annular eyes and a pointed snout. These playful animals may have been pets in ancient Mesoamerica, and this one is posed in a way that immediately reminds the viewer of the famous Colima dog. Size: 9" L x 5.6" W x 4.6" H (22.9 cm x 14.2 cm x 11.7 cm)

A nearly identical Colima pottery figure of a coatimundi eating an ear of corn can be found at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art under accession number M.86.296.155.

Provenance: private Charlotte collection, North Carolina, USA; ex- Bonham's New York, New York, USA, November 9, 2011, lot 159; ex-proctor Stafford collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, prior to 1980; ex-Anthropos Gallery, California, USA; ex-private California, USA collection

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#176673

Chipping to right ear and expected nicks and abrasions, commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with nice remaining detail and pigments.