labret

Labret
Nicknames	Mao
Location	Labrum (below bottom lip, above chin)
Healing	Ranging from 3 - 6 weeks
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A labret is one form of body piercing. Taken literally, it is any type of adornment that is attached to the facial lip (labrum). However, the term usually refers to a piercing that is below the bottom lip, above the chin. It is sometimes referred to as a "tongue pillar."

Among the ancient Aztecs and Mayans, labret piercing was reserved for male members of the higher castes.^{[citation needed]}

Pronunciation

The traditional pronunciation of labret in anthropology is /ˈleɪbrɨt/ LAY-brət. It derives from the Latin labrum "lip" and the diminutive suffix -et. However, many in the body-piercing industry give it the "French" pronunciation /ləˈbreɪ/ lə-bray, though it is not a French word.^[1]

Anthropology

Moche figurine depicting a woman with labret. Larco Museum Collection. Lima-Peru

The labret was a traditional piercing among the American Northwest Coast Indians, where it was related to status:

access to labrets. After 3,000 BP, a divergence in labret wear in north and south coasts. In the north from 1500 - 3500 BP, more labrets worn by males. After 1500 BP, labrets worn by females. In the south, between 2000 - 3500 BP, worn by males and females, but from 2000 BP on, labrets generally disappear and are replaced by cranial deformation by free males and females of whatever class (e.g. elite or commoner). So, for 4,000 years on the northwest coast, it was important to distinguish certain individuals in a very direct manner; either by cranial deformation or by labret wear. Gender and geographical region may also be identified by these methods. ^[2]

When a mask was being made to represent someone of high status, naturally enough, that mask had a labret.

Types of labret piercings

Snakebites

There are several different labret variations based on precisely where the piercing is positioned on the lower lip, including a vertical labret through the top of the lower lip rather than in front of the lip tissue, snake bites that are dual piercings close together reminiscent of fangs, spiderbites, which are dual piercings very close together on the same side of the face, and a lowbret, which is placed as low as possible toward the chin..^[3]

External links

• BMEZine: Lip Piercing
• BMEZine: Labret Piercing
• BMEZine: Labret Stud

See also

• Body piercing aftercare
• Lip piercing
• Lip plate

References