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| Photograph by Joaquin Rubio, Museo Larco, Lima, Peru |
From our friends at the National Geographic Museum...
Exhibition Will Showcase Rare Treasures of Peru’s Rich Pre-Inca Heritage, Including Ornate Golden Headdress
From April 10 to Sept. 14, 2014, the National Geographic Museum will be home to a remarkable collection of ancient gold and silver artifacts excavated from Peru’s legendary royal tombs. “Peruvian Gold: Ancient Treasures Unearthed” will showcase extraordinary objects from Peru’s pre-Inca heritage, including gold ceremonial and funerary masks, textiles, ceremonial ornaments, ceramics and jewelry. The centerpiece of the exhibition will be El Tocado, the largest and most ornate pre-Columbian headdress ever discovered. The extraordinary gold headdress dates from the Middle Sican period (A.D. 900-1100). This will be the first time it will be on display in the United States since it was unearthed in 1991.
Guest curated by National Geographic’s Archaeology Fellow Dr. Fredrik Hiebert, “Peruvian Gold” features iconic artifacts on loan from three Peruvian institutions: Sican National Museum, Larco Museum and Museum of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru. The exhibition continues National Geographic’s longstanding relationship with Peru, which began with National Geographic magazine’s coverage of Hiram Bingham’s excavation of Machu Picchu in 1911. The National Geographic Society has funded more than 180 grants related to exploratory field research in Peru since 1912, including 14 linked to excavations of royal tombs.
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| El Tocado headdress |
“National Geographic has been sharing the stories and the archaeology of ancient Peru for more than 100 years,” said Kathryn Keane, vice president of National Geographic Exhibitions. “This exhibition is an opportunity to walk into the pages of National Geographic magazine and see unique treasures from Peru’s golden past.”
In addition to providing visitors with the opportunity to get up close and personal with stunning examples of ancient craftsmanship, the exhibit also explains how the artifacts reflect the customs, beliefs and ideals of the cultures that produced and utilized them. A map and timeline of Peru’s earliest civilizations serve as the starting point for museum visitors. The exhibition continues with the iconography, craftsmanship and ceremonial heritage of these complex societies.
The “Peruvian Gold” artifacts are organized thematically, with the first group emphasizing the importance of symbolism in Peruvian culture through intricate animal masks and impressive breastplates worn by dignitaries and priests. The exhibit goes on to highlight objects that illustrate ancient Peruvian craftsmanship, attire, rituals and even libations. From nose rings to gold feathers, the diverse selection of artifacts offers a sweeping view of the rich artistic culture of early Peru.
This exhibition is organized in partnership with the Irving Arts Center, Irving, Texas; the Peruvian Ministry of Culture; and the Embassy of Peru.
“Peru has a long history of cooperation and partnership with the National Geographic Society, which dates back to the early years of the institution,” said Harold Forsyth, Ambassador of Peru to the United States. “National Geographic has been involved in many of the most important Peruvian archaeological findings to date and has always been a dependable partner, managing to properly portray the image of Peru beyond its borders. We are thrilled that, through this exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to cross a cultural bridge and understand why Peruvian culture still dazzles the world to this day.”
On April 10, Hiebert and Cecilia Bakula Budge, director of the Museum of the Central Reserve Bank of Peru, will mark the exhibition’s opening with a lecture on the significance of the artifacts on display. The lecture, at National Geographic headquarters, is part of the National Geographic Live event series. Tickets are $50 and include admission to the museum as well as to the opening night party. They can be purchased at www.nglive.org/dc.
Guided tours of the “Peruvian Gold” exhibition will take place each Monday at 11 a.m., and a pottery-themed “drop-in activity” geared for kids ages 5-12 and their families will be offered every day at 2 p.m. The activity involves learning how ceramics are made and learning why pottery is significant to archaeology by creating one’s own Peruvian pinch pot.
Also open in the museum’s 17th Street galleries during this time is “A New Age of Exploration: National Geographic at 125,” which will run through August. “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey” will be on display in the museum’s M Street gallery starting March 4.
The National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Though the photography exhibitions in the museum’s M Street gallery and outdoors are free, the exhibitions in the 17th Street galleries are ticketed. Admission is $11 for adults; $9 for National Geographic members, military, students, seniors and groups of 25 or more; $7 for children 5-12; and free for local school, student and youth groups (18 and under; advance reservation required). Tickets may be purchased online at www.ngmuseum.org; via telephone at (202) 857-7700; or in person at the National Geographic ticket booth, 1145 17th Street M Street, N.W., between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information on group sales, call (202) 857-7281 or email groupsales@ngs.org.
