History, art, and magic of body piercing
Our studio is driven by the history, art, and magic of body piercing. That is why we have transformed our waiting space into a Body Art Museum that celebrates the vast cultural diversity of body modification around the world.
This exclusive collection serves as a reminder that piercing is an ancestral practice, a form of human expression that transcends cultures and millennia.
Ancestral Roots
The cultural diversity of body modification
Admire authentic pieces from various parts of the globe that illustrate the millennial origins of our art:
- Japan - Jomon Era: Artifacts that connect us to the beginnings of body expression in ancient Japan, including ear stretchers/expanders made of clay.
- Alaska - Yupik People: We showcase the Yupik labret, a lip jewel historically made with materials like walrus ivory, symbolizing status and cultural identity.
- Ethiopia - Mursi Tribe: On display, we have a Lip Plate made of terracotta, one of the most impressive and traditional forms of cultural modification in Africa.
- Panama/Colombia - Kuna Yala People: Septum jewelry that tells the history and tradition of this indigenous people, being used only by women as a rite of passage into adulthood.
- Mexico - Pre-Hispanic Period: Materials that refer to the ancestral use of cactus thorns in ritual piercings.
- India - Thaipusam Ritual: Pieces linked to the complex and devotional body modification rituals of the Indian subcontinent.
- Atacama (Chile) and Peru/Bolivia: Jewelry and artifacts illustrating the millennial practices of piercing and ornamentation of the Andean cultures.
Legacy
The Legacy of Professional Piercing
Beyond ancestral history, we honor the birth of modern piercing. In our collection, you will also find:
- Historical Gauntlet Materials: Books and materials from the world's first professional piercing studio (founded in 1975).
- 50th Anniversary Commemorative Edition: An exclusive collection of glass pieces created by Gorilla Glass for Gauntlet's 50th anniversary.
- Pop Culture Piece: A replica of the famous nipple shield immortalized by Janet Jackson at the 2004 Super Bowl, a design popularized by Gauntlet itself.
- Foundational Works: Essential study pieces that established the standards of technique and safety that we use today.
This is our homage to the art we practice: an art with history, science, and profound cultural significance, connecting 10,000-year-old ritual piercing to contemporary professionalism.