The Royal Museum of Art and History’s « Americas » collections are among the finest and most extensive in Europe. Although the various Andean cultures (Peru, Bolivia and Chili) are well-known mainly for their ceramics, their precious metalwork, and their mummies, the public does not have a clear picture of how these people lived and dressed. Textiles were particularly valued because they were considered an extremely precious commodity: they were not only items for wearing, but also symbols of power and identity and could be used as offerings or as a currency of exchange.

This exhibition offers the opportunity to admire the magnificence of the textiles, the quality of the precious metalwork and the beauty of pre-Colombian feather work. You will also discover the mastery of the art of weaving, the sophistication of the motifs, and the varied and still vibrant colours of the fibres and feathers. Through the discovery of their wardrobe (shoes, clothes, head dresses and jewellery) visitors will share in the daily life of these people from the past and admire exceptionally high quality, vividly coloured items as well as impressive precious metalwork.

In addition, all of these works will be displayed in attractive settings, with reconstituted sections of Andean architecture, cotton fields and burial sites. There will also be a children’s circuit as well as educational activities.

Around 200 objects from our collections, from the Linden-Museum in Stuttgart, the MAS in Antwerp and from private Belgian collections will be exhibited around this newly-presented theme. An exhibition for everyone with lots to see!