Kayapó Labret Attributed To Raoni

Jean-Pierre Dutilleux Collection.

Kayapó (Mebêngôkre) labret made of carved and weathered wood, with a flattened lenticular shape, featuring a wide circular disc attached to a back section designed to hold it in the lower lip.

The piece stands out for its formal simplicity and the power of its sculptural presence. The surface reveals an ancient patina consistent with prolonged use, as well as slight irregularities and signs of age consistent with field-collected objects from the 20th century.

Large labrets of this type were worn by certain high-ranking men within Kayapó groups, particularly chiefs and figures of authority. Beyond their practical function, they served as true markers of identity and symbolism.

PROVENANCE

Former collection of Jean-Pierre Dutilleux.

According to the information provided with the object and the archives associated with this collection, this labret is attributed to the Kayapó chief Raoni Metuktire.

The object is accompanied by a certificate as well as a photograph showing it on display at a public exhibition in Malmedy (Malmundarium) in 2019

HISTORICAL AND ETHNOGRAPHIC SIGNIFICANCE

Raoni Metuktire remains one of the most iconic figures in the defense of the Indigenous peoples of the Amazon. His image, widely disseminated through the photographs, films, and expeditions of Jean-Pierre Dutilleux, is now part of the global visual history of Indigenous peoples.

Objects directly associated with Raoni or originating from the immediate entourage of the major Dutilleux expeditions remain extremely rare on the ethnographic art market.

Due to its provenance and iconic nature, this piece transcends the simple category of a tribal artifact to become a historical and anthropological artifact.