The collection
The Paul & Dora Janssen-Arts Collection consists of more than 400 pre-Columbian objects in gold, jade, stone, textiles and shell. The collection is both nationally and internationally famous for its numerous masterpieces. The objects come from more than 50 different cultures, from Alaska to Chile, and bear witness to the craftmanship and the sense of aesthetics of their creators in America before 1500.
There were many differences between the inhabitants of the American continent, but their vision of the world around them was strikingly similar. Thus, we see how human sacrifice was considered essential in order to ensure continuity between life and death. Fertility rituals across the continent assumed various forms but always formed the core of the pre-Hispanic environment. Precious grave gifts, often made from gold, reflect the importance of life after death that all residents share, from Alaska to Chile.
In 2008, the Flemish government decided to give the Paul & Dora Janssen-Arts collection to the City of Antwerp on permanent loan.
