Feather objects were popular for much of Mesoamerican history, and the Aztecs of Central Mexico created some of the most spectacular 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! Aztec artists crafted stunning pieces using feathers from exotic birds like the resplendent quetzal, cotinga, and hummingbirds.

Feathered objects as luxury objects

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.

Watch to learn more about Mexican feather art and why they are important!

Main artworks:

1. Shield (chimalli) belonging to Ahuitzotl, Mexica/Aztec artist, feathers, late 15th century. Weltmuseum, Vienna, Austria

2. Shield (chimalli), Mexica/Aztec artist, feathers, 15th–16th century, feathers. National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City

3. 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. (learn more about the original)

4. Fan, Mexica/Aztec artist, feathers, c. 1500, parakeet and hummingbird feathers. National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City

5. Nahua artists, Amanteca (featherworkers), from the Florentine Codex, 1575–77. Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, Italy

6. Nahua artist, The Mass of Saint Gregory, 1539, feathers on wood with paint, 26 1/4 x 22 in. (68 x 56 cm). Musée des Ameriques, Auch, France

Learn more!

The Getty’s Digital Florentine Codex Project is an incredible resource to learn more about featherworkss.

John Hessler, “For Love, War, and Tribute: Featherwork in the Early Americas,” Library of Congress, 2019.

James Olsen, “The Art of Amanteca, or Feather Craftspeople.” In The Splendor of Mexico.