Description

Labret

Primary Documentation

Accession book entry: 'From Rev. Ch. Harrison, 80 Halton Rd, Canonbury Sq. N. Collection of Haida objects collected by him.... - 115-116 Found unentered: [1 of] 2 lip ornaments.

Card Catalogue Entry - No catalogue cards have been found. [JC 12 11 1996]

Research Notes

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]

This object was not located and therefore not part of the research sessions with Haida delegates in September 2009. [CAK 28/05/2010]