Comments on: Exploring past and present lives—Jacob Zuma

By: Nicolaas Vergunst

Nicolaas Vergunst — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 09:55:28 +0000

Although rare and unique, its authenticity is uncertain as no historical documents link it to Montezuma or, for that matter, to any other Aztec ruler. Moreover, it is not known if the headdress was ever worn, officially or otherwise, nor by whom. The provenance of exotic curiosities were often forgotten or, simply, incorrectly registered; such as the Brazilian axe in Vienna that was (similarly) attributed to “Montezuma II, Inca of Mexico”. For more info on feathered imports and how they found their way to Vienna, see Vienna’s Mesoamerican Featherworks.

By: Anita Venezia

Anita Venezia — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 02:57:18 +0000

Could it really be the big Ms headdress or a later artifact?

By: Sonja Haas

Sonja Haas — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 19:04:16 +0000

Montezuma's feathered headdress to stay in Vienna, for now, says latest report: Verentooi Montezuma blijft in Wenen.

By: Nicolaas Vergunst

Nicolaas Vergunst — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 10:31:23 +0000

McBride may have known about Jacob Msimbiti via an interesting passage given in Adam Hochschild's The Mirror at Midnight: A South African Journey, 1990. As McBride's illustration was published in 1989, a year before Hochschild's account, they may have relied on the same source for their information, probably one by the acclaimed Zulu military historian Sighart "SB" Bourquin (1915-2004). Despite this, Hochschild's biographical synopsis of Jakot Msimbiti is well worth reading here.

By: Stewart Young

Stewart Young — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 08:51:54 +0000

Angus McBride’s picture of Shaka with the Xhosa interpreter is truly remarkable! How could he have imagined such an accurate scenario and, more importantly for your book, could he have known the translator was Jacob Msimbiti? If so, where on earth did he get his information from?

Your posts are superb—I hope the right people get to read them.