19th c. Mexican beaded Hatband

19th c. Mexican beadwork hatband decoration. The small glass beads on this hatband were called Chaquira in Mexico. The beads originally came to the new world from Venice, Bohemia,and later Holland in the 16th c. Chaquira is a very small shiny perforated glass bead characteristically from Murano.

According to historical lore Herman Cortez upon meeting the Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II took off his necklace of bead pearls and glass beads and put it on the emperors neck. This gesture proved to be the beginning of the conquest of Mexico and launched the market demand for European beads as well. This hatband is decorated with beads on lace. The beads are applied with extremely long needles from India specifically for this purpose. The hatband features agriculturally important charms of assorted flowers, vegetables, fruits and a small female figure.