Botocudo, Tembeitera Body Modification Art

1888 color chromolithograph which depicts South American natives of the Botocudo tribe, along with some of the traditional furnishings and weaponry they use. The tembeitera, or wooden disks, that they insert into their lower lips and earlobes is made from light, dried wood of the barriguda tree. This tribe and others like them were badly affected by the deliberate smallpox epidemic introduced by European colonists.