Featherwork

native American Headdress

Aztec featherwork headdress

thumb|The equestrian statue of Justinian from the Augustaion, wearing a toupha. thumb|The "Gunthertuch|Bamberger Gunthertuch", a [[Byzantine silk tapestry depicting an emperor on his triumphant return from a campaign. The tyche on the left offers a toupha.]] The toupha or toufa (, toûpha or τουφίον, touphíon) is a kind of ornamental crest or head-dress with a plumage of the feathers, hair or bristles of exotic animals, worn in classical antiquity as a triumphal decoration. In surviving depictions, it is most often seen on military helmets and emperors' crowns.

thumb|Portrait of Princess Nāhiʻenaʻena holding the feathered royal kāhili, by Robert Dampier thumb|Bishop Museum Kāhili Room A kāhili is a symbol of the aliʻi chiefs and families of the Hawaiian Islands. It was taken by the Kamehamehas as a Hawaiian royal standard and used by the Royal Families to indicate their lineage.

thumb|A Hawaiian ‘ahu‘ula (feathered cape). thumb|Aztec feather shield 'meander and sun" (around 1520, Landesmuseum Württemberg) Featherwork is the working of feathers into a work of art or cultural artifact. Practiced in many parts of the world, this was especially elaborate among the peoples of Oceania and the Americas, such as the Incas and Aztecs.

sacred garment

cloak of featherwork worn by men and women of high rank in Ancient Hawaii

pre-Hispanic artistic and decorative technique