A glimpse of the Andes: a selection from the “Ecuador” collection
Located in the heart of the Andes, between the Pacific Ocean and the Amazon, the region corresponding to present-day Ecuador witnessed remarkable cultural development in the pre-Hispanic period. Long before the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, it was home to a mosaic of societies with diverse traditions, organized in networks of exchange linking the Costa (the coast), the Sierra (the highlands), and the Oriente (the Amazonian region). These populations created an exceptional material culture: finely decorated ceramics and objects crafted from stone, metal, or shell, reflecting both advanced technical skills and profound symbolic meaning.
Out of more than 400 artifacts in the “Ecuador” collection of the Royal Museums of Art and History, only a small number are currently on display. Long kept in storage without precise cultural attribution, these works have recently been the focus of a study and outreach project, examining their context, function, and significance.
This presentation invites the public to discover the cultural richness of a lesser-known part of the Andes through a selection of objects and the results of recent research.
Load the virtual tour on your computer by clicking on this link (depending on your computer speed, it may take a few moments for the images to load). On your smartphone, please download the Metasteps app first. Enjoy your visit!
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