Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn, an Austrian economist, analyst, and 2028 presidential hopeful, has declared his intent to return a 16th-century feather headdress to Mexico if he is elected. The artifact is from the Aztec or Mexica civilization, and was possibly worn by Emperor Moctezuma II, is currently at the Weltmuseum in Vienna.
Fehlinger-Jahn told the Art Newspaper that “Austria and Mexico should negotiate a bilateral solution based on friendship rather than confrontation.” He added: “The original penacho should ultimately belong to Mexico.”
The Mexican government has sought the return of the headdress (known as a penacho in Spanish) for decades, and a replica is currently on display at the country’s National Museum of Anthropology. Several other important artifacts of Mexica origin that have been part of repatriation disputes are also currently housed at the Weltmuseum.
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The headdress is one of the most prominent Indigenous artifacts in repatriation debates, but it is not entirely clear how it ended up in Europe. Fitted with the dazzling green feathers of the long-tailed quetzal bird, is regarded as a masterwork of Indigenous artistry. Weighing around four pounds, the six by four foot penacho previously featured several sections of different colored feathers along with gold ornaments on a net held in place by slim wooden rods.
Austrian authorities have cited the headdress’s fragility as the cause preventing its return, as per a joint study by Austrian and Mexican conservators. However, some scholars have contested this assessment. In 2021, then-Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador requested that the headdress be loaned to Mexico for an exhibition commemorating 500 years since the fall of the city of Tenochtitlan. The request was denied.
Fehlinger-Jahn’s stance on the headdress reflects the burgeoning global discussion on the return of stolen historical artifacts. Currently, legislation on Austrian government guidelines for repatriation efforts remains pending.