The Indo-Portuguese Museum is a museum in
Fort Kochi,
Kerala,
India.
History
The museum was established by the efforts of the late Dr. Joseph Kureethra,
Bishop of Kochi, in a bid to protect and showcase the rich cultural heritage and
Portuguese influence. This museum now showcases the Portuguese influences on Fort Kochi and the surrounding areas, especially, the western parts of
Kochi.
Features
The museum has five main sections: Altar, Treasure, Procession, Civil Life and Cathedral. Among the pieces on display are a piece of the altar made in
teak (16th century) from the
Church of Our Lady of Hope,
Vypeen; a
chasuble (19th century) from Bishop's House, Fort Kochi; a processional cross, which is a combination of silver and wood (17th century) from
Santa Cruz Cathedral, Fort Kochi; and an Indo-Portuguese
monstrance
A monstrance, also known as an ostensorium (or an ostensory), is a vessel used in Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, High Church Lutheran and Anglican churches for the display on an altar of some object of piety, such as the consecrated Eucharistic Sa ...
(18–19th century) from the Church of Our Lady of Hope. Other objects on display at the Indo-Portuguese Museum are sculptures, precious metal objects and vestments, among others from the Cathedral of Santa Cruz and other churches of the Kochi diocese.
The
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation of Lisbon, Portugal, was directly involved in the selection of the artworks displayed in the Indo-Portuguese Museum of Cochin, being responsible for the museological layout. The artworks had been selected among various churches of Cochin area. The foundation also provided technical and financial assistance towards the erection of the building where the museum has been established since 2000 and has published a comprehensive catalogue, which is available at the museum.
Location
The museum is located inside the compound of the Bishop's House at Fort Kochi, its geographic co-ordinates being .
References
https://www.keralatourism.org/destination/indo-portuguese-museum/336
External links
Kerala Tourism article
{{Authority control
Ethnic museums in India
Museums in Kochi
History museums in India
Local museums in India
Portuguese diaspora in Asia