Serpent Labret with Articulated Tongue 

This is a serpent labret with an articulated tongue, crafted from gold by an Aztec artist, sometime between 1300 and 1521. It is now held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The serpent form was deeply embedded in Aztec society and religious practices. The image of a snake, often associated with deities like Quetzalcoatl, symbolized power, knowledge, and the cyclical nature of life and death. Serpents often appear in Aztec art and architecture, reflecting their importance in the culture’s worldview. As a lip plug worn by high-ranking individuals, the serpent labret might have signified the wearer's elevated status, their connection to the divine, and their role in maintaining cosmic balance. The articulated tongue adds another layer of meaning, possibly representing speech, ritual performance, or the transmission of knowledge. Understanding the context and function of objects like this serpent labret requires careful art historical research, drawing on archaeological findings and ethnohistorical accounts to get closer to the artwork’s original meaning.