8/12/2019 The Moors' Systematic Removal from History

1/2

STANDARD OR HEAD-DRESS?

To the distinguishlld scholar, tlle late ProfeMOr Feroinnnd vonHochstetter, we owe a debt of gratitude for the preaervntion or theunique specimen of noclen . Mes:icsn fcntllcr-work wbich will bo as:-hlbited e\'cntuaJ1y us one t the gems of UIC ric h ethnological collection ill the newly crect.ed Imperial MlLlleum of Natural Historyin Vienna.In 1878, his attention waa directed to its (ormer presencc at theBelvidere Museum by a not.ice in Dnron "on Sn.cken'8 descripth'eclltalogue of the Jmperial Ambrll8 collection printed in Vie nna in18S5, wherein, among mro object.s from \ariOIlIl porta of the world,it i8 mentioned as (01101l s: "No, 3 -A }(exican henel-dress ahout8 ft. in height composed of magnificent green rcntliers wilil goldenhued lustre tllld of coloured bands of fenther-work studde(l withsmall plate.s of gold. This specimen was termed in the tll\'entoryor 1596 11 Moorish bat.'' ' Guided by this nato, Herr von Hoebstelter with the Msist.n.nce or Dr. lIg, the custodian or the AmbrMcollection, foun d the precious relic and rescllcd it from all obscureoorncr of II. showcase wbcre It hung, foi lled toget.her. next. to nmedireval bishop's lDitre and 8urrountlecl by ILlIltlry curiosities fromNorth AlOerica, Chinn. nnd the Sundn Islumls. t Wil l , unfortunotely, in soimpaircd and motbt: aten i \ condit.iOD thnt, to use ll t rrHochsl

8/12/2019 The Moors' Systematic Removal from History

2/2

1lIl1ICAN BTA ND l RDdemise of the nrtlh(luke Ferdinnnd of Tyrol, the founder of the colloot\on, by the imperial commissioners appointed to rc\'sc bis will.IOn folio H2 of Ulis ancient document. it i8 cllto.iogued wit.h otherobjects in feather-work contained in 1\ cbest. (No.9)" and Is Ill' -8criuetl as & Moorlsb h l.L of beRutiful, long, IU8troUS groon antIgold-hued (co.there, bedecked 000"0 with white, red and blue rca.tlJCI1I and gold ro settes and ornaments. In front, on the forehead,ltbas a beak of pure gold ." Tlu term ~ l o o r i 8 h , as here applied, cnnIcarcely be regnrded as a. deceptive one Inasmuch as " Montezuma,tbe king of Tcmistit.an and Mexicot" is subsequently designated :L9lIa 1I[oori,b king" In this lawo io\'cntory of 1596. (See p. 9.)

t Is interesting to note the grtl.d unl changes that occur in thewording of the subsequent periodical officiul registrations of this"Moorish hat." In 161S it description waa faithrullyreproduced.In 1621 the word" Ind ian" w u eub$titutcd for "Moorish;" withthia lingle a.1t.eralion the original text WII 8 again transcribed in1150. In 1188, howe\'er, 0. remArkable tmnsformation Willi e l f ~ t e d ,the hnt bec me "aD apron" and the official record reads: "An Indian ap ron of long green (eathers. I t is garnished _liMe with.narrow band of whlt.c (enthers, followed by n broad onc of green,then there is n narrow stripe or red and a broad one of blue. Theb:Ulcls are studded wilu crescenta or hOrlSe ehoes. small circularplates nntl oUler Ulin gold piccefl. Tue old Inventory deslgnateethis object &8 an Indian hilt."Thie Ifllt. sentence pro'lo'ea t.lle iflentity of the llpecimen described.The .. beak of pure gold on tile rorelJead" i8 not mentioned hereand no subsequent reference is mode t.o it.. It. probably founcl itaway to the melting pot. (luring the flny.two years intervening be-tween the two registrallons, sbaring thus the common fllte of nlmost aU of the much admIred go dsmiUuJ' work brought to Europeby tbe Conquero\'1l. Des (>Oiled o( tile gold bCDk DO