ABSTRACT
Mosaics of carefully overlaid, glued feathers were a major art form of Mesoamerica, dating back at least to the 13th century, and especially prominent among the Nahua people of the Aztec Empire (1428–1521 CE). Items of high value and prestige, feather mosaics traditionally were made using a range of vibrantly colored feathers by feather artists, or amantecah, who resided in specialist districts throughout the Aztec Empire. The intense sensory displays created by moving, shining featherworks were closely associated with the person and tonalli (animating force) of their owners, and their use was restricted to god-representatives, rulers, nobles, and accomplished warriors, who wore full-body feather suits and carried round feather shields into battle (Figure 6.2.1).
