Casa del Alabado Pre-Columbian Art Museum

Within Quito’s heart, the Casa del Alabado Pre-Columbian Art Museum beckons. It’s not just a museum. It’s a time machine. The Casa del Alabado Pre-Columbian Art Museum sits in a 17th-century building. It was once a colonial home, then transformed into a museum in the early 20th century. Now, the Casa del Alabado Pre-Columbian Art Museum safeguards over 5,000 artifacts. These treasures narrate Ecuador’s vibrant history, from pre-Columbian civilizations to modern times. The Casa del Alabado Pre-Columbian Art Museum isn’t arranged chronologically. It’s thematic, divided into the Infra-world, Mid-world, and Supra-world. In the Infra-world, stone sculptures evoke the earliest cultures, like the Valdivia and Chaupicruz. The cool, dark ambiance echoes their ancient habitats. Funeral urns hint at rituals, showing how ancestors honored their dead. The Mid-world celebrates artistry and materials. You’ll see intricate carvings made by rubbing stones together or cutting with thread. The techniques of pastillaje (plaster) and engobe (post-kiln coloring) adorn the ceramics. The Supra-world explores the spiritual realm. A striking shaman sculpture, the largest in the museum, depicts a trance state. He holds a cylinder, likely containing hallucinogenic substances. His puffy eyes and powerful form convey a deep connection to the mystical world. The Casa del Alabado Pre-Columbian Art Museum is more than a collection of objects. It’s a journey through Ecuador’s soul.