For textile enthusiasts visiting Peru, the Amano Museum in Lima is a great place to explore before traveling across the country. Here you can learn about the country’s deep and fascinating weaving traditions.
A museum that was started in order to preserve a rich tradition
The Amano Museum is one of Peru’s best-kept secrets as it specializes in textile art and its collection was started on the initiative of a successful Japanese businessman called Yoshitaro Amano, who invested most of his fortune in an attempt to protect Peru’s cultural heritage.
During his travels, Amano acquired and preserved objects abandoned by grave robbers in the coastal desert. Amano founded founded the museum in 1964, and it was one of the first buildings in modern Lima to be designed as such. 50 years later, and with financial support from other institutions, the museum underwent a revamp, creating a facility with up-to-date conservation equipment and for its important collection of pre-Hispanic textiles.
What to expect when taking a tour
The tour through the museum starts with a history of textiles throughout the world, covering where certain types of textiles were made and the earliest raw materials used. The tour continues through textile development in Peru and the history of the country’s various cultures. There are 120 works of art in this section. Finally, visitors have privileged access to a storeroom containing more than 460 pieces showing the development of textiles by the Chancay culture. A privately guided visit lets you see this unique and fascinating collection at leisure.
Cultures that are represented at the museum
The Amano museum of preColumbian textiles has pieces from the Chavin, Paracas, Nasca, Mochica, Huari, Sihuas, Lambayeque, Chimu, Chancay, Chuquibamba and Inca cultures. A gallery also shows the whole manufacturing process from raw material through dyeing, spinning and adequate choice of the loom.
Permanent exhibition
The museum’s permanent exhibition is housed within four different rooms. After making your way through each room, you’ll develop an understanding of the cultural histories of those who produced some of Peru’s most important textiles. You’ll also have the chance to explore how textile techniques evolved across different eras of human history. There’s also a room that’s themed around the raw materials that ancient people used in order to make their textiles.
Textile restoration
Many people overlook the importance that textile restoration plays in assuring that these rare kinds of pieces can be preserved for future generations. Since the founding of the museum, many hundreds of textiles have been restored.
Details for visiting
Hours: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Entrance fees: General Admission: S/ 30, Peruvian adults; over 65: S/ 20; Peruvian Students: S/ 10. For guided tours, expect a price of 30 soles for a general tour, and 50 soles for a specialized tour.
Location: Calle Retiro 160, Miraflores (Near the intersection of Av. Angamos Oeste and Av. Santa Cruz)
More information: Visit their website.
Cover photo: Amano Museum Facebook
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Cover Photo: Ultimate Journeys Peru
