One of the Aztec’s high arts was feather-working. Their skilled amanteca craftspeople, with generations of skill behind them, probably created hundreds of thousands of these stunning feathered pieces. From headdresses to shields and anything else that needed a touch of beauty. Once the city of Tenochtitlan fell in 1521 there would be no more purely indigenous Mexica art. Anything made after that point would bear the psychological influence or style of Europe. And from the beginning of the exploration of Mexico by the Spanish conquistadores, Aztec treasure was sent back to Spain. Most of the gold was melted down for the Spanish crown. Much of the rest of the gifts and items sent back to Europe were perishable or were simply lost to time. Some made it to royal collections and were passed down to museums.

Music credit:
Barombi-ma-Mbu by REW
Olivine by REW
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/REW_1123

Information Sources
mna.inah.gob.mx
mexicolore.co.uk
landesmuseum-stuttgart.de
weltmuseumwien.at/en

Produced by Mexica Podcast