the labret is in the permanent collection of the metropolitan museum of art in new york city, which purchased the piece in 2016. previously it had been owned by heath mcclung steele from 1937 to 1949, and then by his children until 1978. after being sold at sotheby's in new york on 22 november 1978 it passed into the collection of jay c. leff until 1981, and subsequently the collections of judith small nash and peter g. wray, the latter of whom held the labret until 1985. it was next owned by herbert l. lucas, through 2004, and then became part of a private new york collection until its sale to the met.