Muzeion
Aztec Obsidian Labret // Mexico Ca. 1300-1521 CE
Product Description
Aztec obsidian labret or lip-plug, with a rough finish. Labrets are a piece of jewelry worn only by noble males in Central Mexico — a rare survival of what was once a thriving tradition in the Aztec Empire. The medium of obsidian is rare and quite difficult to work, so the artisan must have been very skilled.
Labrets, called tentetl in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, were manifestations of political power and qualified the wearer’s speech and breath as precious. The Aztec title for the royal office was huey tlahtoani, or "great speaker," and the adornment of the mouth was highly symbolic. Labrets were the visual markers of the eloquent, truthful speech expected of royalty and the nobility. Crafted from a sacred material, a labret would have underscored the ruler’s divinely sanctioned authority, and asserted his position as the individual who could speak for an empire.
Product Details
- ColorsBlack Obsidian
- Materials
Obsidian
- Measurements
0.94"L x 0.75"W x 0.47"H
- OriginMexico
— Aztec Empire
— Includes Certificate of Authenticity
Shipping Information
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Shipping AvailabilityUnited States
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Shipping PolicyStandard Ground Shipping
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Ship In3-5 weeks ⓘ
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Return PolicyFinal sale, not eligible for return or cancellation
Size Chart
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