Native American, Northwestern United States, Alaska, Inuit, ca. 18th to 19th century CE. An ivory labret carved from a fossilized walrus tusk. The labret has a thick cylindrical body, surmounted with a slightly flared face. The wearer would insert the plug into their lip as a facial accessory and the flared end held the labret in place. Wearing a labret could indicate rank and tribal affiliation as well as simply be a personal adornment. Piercing below the lower lip happened in childhood, and then the piercing was stretched periodically to fit larger labrets. Size: 1.25" L x 0.65" W (3.2 cm x 1.7 cm)
This is an ESA antique exempt piece of ivory and cannot be sold internationally or to anyone residing in the states of California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. We guarantee that the piece is over 100 years old.
Provenance: private Littleton, Colorado, USA collection, purchased from Gladys' Gifts, Barrow, Alaska, USA, ca. 1959 to 1962
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
#165925
Condition
Natural fissures and surface striations from fossilization process. Pinhole cavity on flared face and minor chips to peripheries. Smooth with lovely caramel hues.