Precolumbian Museum of Art Cusco

Museo de Arte Precolombino

The Museo de Arte Precolombino possesses a world-class Peruvian collection that cannot be matched in Cusco. The 12-room exhibition space is located in the Casa Cabrera, a mansion-turned-convent that dates back to 1580. Inside this small Museum, you'll find 450 artifacts including Peruvian ceramics, jewelry, and carvings. The museum's collection spans from 1250 BCE to 1532 CE. It features works from the Nasca, Huari, Mochica, Chancay, and Inca civilizations.

The Museum was originally an Inca ceremonial court built  around 1450 CE. In 1580 it became the mansion of the conqueror Alonso Díaz and by the year 1850 the Earl of Cabrera lived there. It was restored as the Museo de Arte Precolombino in June 2003.

The objects were selected among 45,000 objects located at  the Larco Museum in Lima. The pieces are quite beautifully represented and you're allowed to take photos.

It was hard to choose which objects to show here but these are among my favorites:

Globular Vessel

Globular Vessel, Mochica Classical Period 1- 800 CE:

The manipulation of line over color predominates in this piece. Everything is exact, nothing is in excess. This piece expresses the artists skills and sense of beauty.

Representations of One Person

Representations of a Single Person, Mochica Classical Period 1- 800 CE:

The Mochica introduced a radical change within the art of ceramics. A close observation allows you to appreciate that these are not only sculptures of an outstanding person but these images are actually the same individual whose image was made by different artists at different times.

Fox Jars

Fox Jars, Mochica Classical Period 1- 800 CE:

These are two big Moche jars with human bodies and fox heads. The humans are sitting in the position usually taken by priests, and the outfits show their priestly positions.

Llama Vessels

Camelid Vessels, Huari Transitional Period 1- 1300 CE:

The llama is an Andean camelid that possesses great symbolic meaning and economic importance.These bottles show gentleness and total beauty typical features of Huari Ceramics.

Highly recommended!

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