Aztec feather art more precious than gold (featherworks)
Speaker: Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank
Aztec (Mexica) Feathered objects
Feather objects like feathered headdresses were popular for much of Mesoamerican history, and the Mexica (Aztecs) of Central Mexico created some of the most spectacular featherworks that still survive. Imagine colorful shields, dazzling fans, shimmering headdresses, and other precious objects made of brilliantly colored feathers that were more valuable than gold!
Penacho of Motecuhzoma II or Feathered Headdress (replica), Aztec/Mexica culture, original: 16th century, feathers including resplendent quetzal, roseate spoonbill, piaya cayana, and lovely cotinga, gold, wood, cotton, and more. Original in the Weltmuseum, Vienna, Austria; replica in the Hall of the Aztecs, National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City. Photo © Dr. Lauren Kilroy-Ewbank. (learn more about the original.)
Nahua artists, Amanteca (featherworkers), from the Florentine Codex, 1575–77. Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Italy.
Aztec artists crafted stunning pieces using feathers from exotic birds like the resplendent quetzal, cotinga, and hummingbirds. Featherworks were luxury objects, and it's not hard to see why! There was even a special class of artists who made featherworks in Aztec culture called the amanteca.
Even after the major transformations and disruptions in lifeways resulting from the Spanish conquest in 1521, featherworks were still popular. Indigenous artists still crafted featherworks, though with a change in subject matter to Christian themes. This video looks at some of the existing Aztec (Mexica) featherworks, including the famous headdress of Moctezuma II (Penacho de Moctezuma II) and the Mass of Saint Gregory that was made after the Spanish conquest of Mexico.
Video chapters
0:00 Introduction to featherworks and Mesoamerica
0:42 The Aztecs (Mexica) and sources of feathers (like resplendent quetzals, scarlet macaws)
1:28 Amanteca (featherworkers) and The Florentine Codex
2:00 Whisks, fans, shields, and headdresses
2:25 Headdress of Moctezuma II (Penacho de Moctezuma II)
2:45 Feather art after the Spanish conquest
3:05 The Mass of Saint Gregory and Don Diego de Alvarado Huanitzin
3:55 Schools at Christian missions and European prints
Learn more
Find more resources about the Mexica (Aztecs).
Learn more about Mesoamerica.
Interested in learning more about feather art from around the world? We have a section about it in our close-looking course!
Learn more about the Mexica (Aztecs) with our short introduction to the Aztecs textbook chapter! Includes discussion questions, a quiz, and more.
Learn more about Aztec deities and mythology—like how to identify different gods and goddesses!
