Labret, Eagle Head 1521

This is an Aztec labret in the form of an eagle head, dating back to the 14th-16th century. Carved from gold, it would have been worn as a lip plug. Lip plugs were not just adornments but powerful indicators of social status, ritual roles, and personal identity in Aztec society. The golden eagle was a symbol closely tied to the sun and warfare, embodying strength, vision, and leadership. To wear such an emblem was to make a statement of one's position within the Aztec world. Imagine the weight of this gold against the skin, the glint of the metal in the sun—a visceral connection to power. How does this object challenge our understanding of beauty and identity, and what does it tell us about the values of a culture so different, and yet so deeply human?