Certain cultural goods possess value that transcends political and cultural borders. They are a testament of past generations’ accomplishments and of mankind’s ability to infuse an object with a group’s identity and the spirit of a particular time. Said objects carry with them the marks of their original culture and narrate the history of encounters between civilizations from which the world’s contemporary cultural wealth is derived.
An example of this is the Feather Headdress of Ancient Mexico. Notwithstanding that it’s been almost half a millennium since it left our shores, this piece is deeply engrained in the identity of Mexicans of the 21st century, insofar as it is one of the first witnesses of the encounter between two cultures. Housed at the Museum of Ethnology in Vienna, the Headdress of Ancient Mexico continues to have a controversial and at times speculative significance that at times overshadows its importance as a unique piece of evidence of the work of plume craftsmen in Ancient America.
In this sense, it is important to keep in mind that Aztecs, Tlaxcalans, Purepechas and Mayans made of feathers –alongside jade and precious metals – the indispensable materials with which they represented pre hispanic thought. The Headdress, for instance, which is widely recognized by the public today, was a symbol of royalty, as well as religious and military might.
The Headdress of Ancient Mexico is the only survivor of the elements that constituted the ceremonial and warrior attire of ancient Mexican cultures. Its presence in Vienna has tightened the historical links between Mexico and Austria. The profound friendship and solidarity that binds both nations, particularly after Mexico opposed and protested against the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany – a gesture that played an important part in allowing the former to regain its full independence after the World War II – has enabled the Mexican government to refocus cultural cooperation with Austrian authorities. The main objectives in this change of direction are to guarantee the conservation of this piece and to make it accessible to a greater audience, particularly those that have an emotional link to it.
In light of this, Mexico suggested in 2007 a new scheme of cooperation that not only recognizes Austria’s ownership over the piece, but sets out the foundations for joint work on its restoration and preservation, in addition to the carrying out of scientific enquiries to determine the viability of transporting the piece, in order for it to be exhibited temporarily in Mexico. Said scheme also considers the exhibition in Austria of pieces that belong to Mexican museums.
This initiative has required intense technical work by specialists, as well as an arduous diplomatic process that touches on the legal and political implications of this issue. That is why Mexico’s Foreign Ministry must pursue a constant dialogue with Austrian authorities and members of its civil society. Important public figures from business and cultural sector have also joined this cause. Thanks to the Austrian government’s open disposition and good will we have made important breakthroughs on the matter. The possibility of the Headdress of Ancient Mexico to visit Mexico has never been so close.
Additionally, the research project that has been developed during the past three years by the National Institute of History and Anthropology of Mexico’s National Autonomous University has resulted in a detailed description and precise historical and technical analysis of this historic object. These findings will be compiled in a publication that will be released in Vienna on November 14, at the same time that the Headdress of Ancient Mexico will be shown to the public for the first time in eight years, after it underwent a splendid process of restoration. Even though a great amount of new information has come up from this enquiry, many unknowns remain and the mysticism surrounding the Headdress endures. And it will surely further endure as it continues to be one of the pieces with the greatest symbolic value for Mexicans.
The first steps have already been taken and complicated machinery has already started to move forward thanks the Mexican government’s determination. The book’s publication and the presentation of the restored piece deserve to be celebrated. However, there is still a long road to travel. The main objective for Mexico continues to be that public exhibition of the Headdress of Ancient Mexico on the national territory. I’m confident that the conditions are there for both Austria and Mexico to make both a relevant contribution to the conservation of both countries’ cultural heritage and to develop a new concept of cultural cooperation that incorporates genuine notions of humanism and universality, thus renewing our recognition of a shared past and a common future. Let us hope that it shall be so.
Alfonso de Maria y Campos is Ambassador, Director of the National Institute of Anthropology and History
