Accession Number

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PRM Source

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Description

Elongated oval labret, embellished with a flange and incised line. [CAK 26/05/2009]

Longer Description

Elongated oval labret, embellished with a flange and incised line. Carved from a single piece of stone, the labret has a longer, thinner and curved surface, forming a flange (presumably the edge worn against the gums). The body of the labret is shorter, wider and more oval in shape. A line is incised around the labret, roughly at its midpoint [CAK 07/07/2009].

Primary Documentation

Accession Book Entry - 'MRS H. G. BEASLEY, WHITE BARN, SUNNINGDALE, BERKS. Specimens from the Cranmore Museum... - N. AMERICA, N. W. COAST INDIANS, probably HAIDA. [insert] WESTERN ESKIMO [end insert]. Labret of black slate-stone (argillite), elongated oval with flange. L. 3.6 cm. width 1.1 cm. depth 1.9 cm. ("X" 12.7.38).'
Additional Accession Book Entry - 'Beasley cat. states ESKIMO. Axel Rasmussen coll. Bt. from him.' [CW 11 6 98]

Pitt Rivers Museum display label [in Related Documents File] - Lip stud of argillite. Probably Haida, N.W. coast of America. d.d. Mrs. H. G. Beasley. 1954. [MdeA 16/9/2005]

?Pitt Rivers Museum label -12.7.38 "x" [CAK 26/05/2009]

Related Documents File - A discussion of labrets occurs on Tape 6, time 3:30 to 4:30 in the Haida Project Related Documents File, which contains video of research sessions and interviews with Haida delegates from September 2009 as part of the project ‘Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge'. It also includes post-visit communications that discuss object provenance. For extensive photographic, video, and textual records documenting the Haida research visit as a whole, including but not limited to preparations of objects for handling, travel logistics, British Museum participation, transcribed notes from research sessions and associated public events held at PRM, see the Haida Project Digital Archive, stored with the Accessions Registers. Original hand-written notes taken during research sessions have been accessioned into the Manuscripts collection, in addition to select other materials. [CAK 02/06/2010]

Research Notes

This object was viewed and confirmed as Haida by tribal members Vincent Collison, Lucille Bell, and Kwiiawah Jones on 7 September 2007 in preparation for a planned Haida community visit to PRM in 2009 [L Peers, 24/01/2008]
Labrets were worn by Haida females as an indication of their status. [CAK 26/05/2009]
The following passages can be found in Charles Harrison's manuscript, sent to E.B. Tylor at the Pitt Rivers Museum, and later expanded and published as Ancient Warriors of the North Pacific. On page 16, he writes: "When her time [first menstruation] was over her uncle made a feast, then her lower lip was pierced, and a piece of whalebone inserted about the size of an ordinary shirt stud. On her marriage this was enlarged to the size of a cuff button. The size increased according to the social position of her marriage, and the number of children she bears, so that in reality this bone insertion is a mark of caste. I have seen some very large ones, on which the lip lay distended exposing the teeth. The fact is the Haida women have more lip than any other we know of, and to see a group of the quarrelling, the lip shaking with anger, is a sight not to be forgotten. The old women who have their lips pierced are generally at the bottom of all the rows, and act afterwards as peacemakers, looking as innocent as lambs They are great diplomats and generally contrive to have their own way, and it is a mistake to imagine them treated as slaves, for though they do much drudgery, an offer of assistance from a man would be laughed at. They also pierced their noses, and suspended shells, bone, teeth of animals and other bijouterie from them when at a state of puberty, and during each successive month at the customary period: and it is not a bad idea either, for what is jewellery and other ornaments for if not to be conspicuous and admired." And on page 34, he writes: "Chin Stones or Bones. A girl formerly, as soon as she arrived at the years of puberty, had her chin or lower lip slit, and a piece of whalebone inserted. Very rarely silver was used. I have however seen this article made of silver, as well as of bones, and of stone. It is increased according to the rank she takes when married, and to the number of children she bears." [CAK 27/05/2009]

The following information comes from Haida delegates who worked with the museum's collection in September 2009 as part of the project “Haida Material Culture in British Museums: Generating New Forms of Knowledge”:
This labret was viewed alongside other items of personal adornment on Friday Sept 11, 2009. Christian White identified the material as stone. A discussion of labrets can be seen on Tape 6, time 3:30 - 4:30, which can be found in the Haida Project Related Documents File. [CAK 20/05/2010]