| Labret is a form of body piercing. The word labret has | | | | walrus ivory and obsidian dating back to 8700 BC in |
| been derived from labrum that stands for lip and is | | | | Kamchatka and 6400 BC in Iran. |
| also used to refer to any type of jewelry that is worn | | | | Archeological finding also point towards the used of |
| on the lip or around it. However, when spoken in | | | | labrets by the local population of Balkans and Sudan |
| popular parlance, labrets refers to lip piercing that is | | | | that can be traced back to 5000 BC and 3700 BC |
| done just below the lower lip and slightly above the | | | | respectively. Today, labrets made of wood and ivory |
| chin. The popular term tongue pillar is also used to | | | | are mostly used by a few tribes belonging to the |
| refer to labrets. Though some believe this piercing to | | | | Amazonian region and Africa. Some of these tribes |
| be a recent fad, this is not true as a mention of labrets | | | | have graduated to wearing lip plates made of wood in |
| has been found in many ancient cultures. These include | | | | the place of relatively inconspicuous labrets. As |
| the Aztec civilization as well where it was customary | | | | opposed to the Aztecs where labrets were reserved |
| for men of good social standing to wear labrets. | | | | solely for males, African tribes require women to wear |
| These body piercing jewelry pieces were usually | | | | labrets for religious purpose. |
| made of pure gold and carved into the shape of | | | | Coming to labret piercing, these can be done in many |
| serpents. Most of these gold labrets were studded | | | | different ways and the labrets can be placed in |
| with precious stones such as jade or obsidion to | | | | different parts of the lip. Vertical labrets are by far the |
| reflect the status of the wearer in the social hierarchy. | | | | most popular form of lip piercing in which the top of the |
| While Aztecs used gold labrets, most African tribes | | | | upper lip is pierced. In snake bites labret piercing, twin |
| used wooden, ivory or quartz crystal labrets. In some | | | | piercing is made to resemble the sign of a snake bite. |
| tribes, it is not rare to find women sporting labrets that | | | | Off late, teenagers are also opting for the spider bite |
| are made of abalone shell or animal bone. | | | | labret piercing in which closely spaced dual piercing is |
| Archeologists have even found labrets made of | | | | made on the same side of the face. |