Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A fine collection of 3 labrets or lip plugs, all exhibiting an attractive minimalist design, and hand-knapped from jet-black obsidian. The facial jewelry presents with a wide cylindrical body surmounted by a sloped face and the surfaces are polished to a lustrous finish. The largest labret has a drilled hole beneath the body that allowed the wearer to fasten the back while the plug was in their lip, and one labret has a shallow, indentation, while the middle-sized labret is not drilled, perhaps unfinished. When held to the light each exhibits a lovely semi-translucency on the peripheries of the face. Size of largest: 1.25" L x 0.75" W x 0.5" H (3.2 cm x 1.9 cm x 1.3 cm)
Provenance: private Arcadia, California, USA collection, acquired prior to 2000
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#160919
Condition
Chips to face of smallest labret. Largest labret has a chip to underside of periphery face. Middle sized labret is intact with only minor surface abrasions. Light mineral deposits within recessed areas on all.