Aztec's Headdress

An Aztec Headdress in Austria

Aztec feathered headdress, reproduction. Original: early 16th century, 

quetzal, cotinga, roseate spoonbill, piaya feathers, wood, fibers, amate paper, cotton, gold, and gilded brass (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcr9IHdTaaMDjE70TyZZh7zaqBEXOdTQ7s_PZJNEA6du8_MVQD0bW5y4Rw7EClSnnMjAFrWu2TatZKXJCLnS1VhyphenhyphenlKKKbXuyNhXZWpMQOO6CbTawRcWekV25NNgahmOPJjzLhqgNAT0hT/s320/16790130426_c8c193c153_k.jpg)

The Feathered headdress is an Aztec possession and I believe it belongs in its rightful home in Mexico. Currently it is displayed in Austria and gathering it's own popularity but the piece was stolen. This story dates back in like the 16th century when Hernan Cortes who defeated the Aztecs at the time, saw this headdress and was astonished by its beauty; he sent it back to Europe. The headdress was said to actually belong to Moctezuma II who was the emperor of the Aztec empire who was defeated by Cortes in 1521. This headdress was not given and therefore there was no consent to taking the art from it’s home morally it’s better off returned. Not only was it stolen but it holds importance to the people. This headdress was used in Aztec culture; it was part of their daily lives and regularly involved this headdress or the use of this art style. The headdress was used as part of a costume, that they used in rituals or performances this piece completely transformed the one who wore it and came to life with the dances and movement, imagining the feathers coming alive in the open sky maybe with the sun shining down or a beautiful full moon, these feathers are powerful through an appearance and in size, it’s over powering the one to wear it; swallowing them into the costume and making them be all about this art. Having art work like this headdress that is so deeply connected with the people and its culture is basically representing the Aztecs as a whole it carries their traditions. These headdresses and costumes they went with were essential to their lives; It was showing their way of life and highlighting the importance of these rituals and the performance that was once was so important. Even the material represents their land, the feathers from male quetzal birds only found in Central America, there are gold and blue ornaments that most likely represented power and wealth within their society, and textiles, shells and other material they have from the lands that make up this art. Overall the feathered headdress holds power of representing the Aztec culture. Yet, that was stripped away by Cortes when he stole it and sent it away. The headdress has very little power being displayed in another museum; it would be better off being shown in the museum in Mexico where it can show the people of their land the beauty from their ancestors. It will show the people who come to see the natural beauty of the headdress and see how the land connects with the material used in the art. This headdress well represents how extraordinary the feather crafting skill was to the Aztec culture, they valued the artist who made these headdresses who were known as Amanteca; they even had their own place in the civilization where they’d make the art. The importance comes from using these headdresses for rituals and to perform dances that bring the people together to see an art in action, and these rituals must’ve had great meanings behind them. With having so much cultural value I think the Aztec feathered headdress should be returned home and be able to be viewed by their own people, they deserve to see their ancestors great skills and dedication to the feathered headdress art which was once of great importance to the early Aztec people. With today’s technology and shipping we could easily return this art home along with any other art that was sent away.







SOURCE_

Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank and Dr. Beth Harris, "Aztec feathered headdress," in Smarthistory, August 10, 2015, accessed March 19, 2021, https://smarthistory.org/feathered-headdress-aztec/.