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Chocolatería El Indio: A Preserved Traditional Madrid Chocolate Shop Display

This exhibit offers unique insight into Madrid's commercial heritage and traditional artisanal production.

Delve into Madrid's past with the Chocolatería El Indio exhibit, a meticulous preservation of a cherished traditional establishment. This display showcases the shop's original interior, period furniture, and machinery. It provides a fascinating look at 19th-century commerce, the evolution of 'ultramarinos' shops, and the cultural significance of chocolate in Spain. Explore how this piece of urban history was safeguarded by the Museo del Traje.

About Chocolatería El Indio: Un Establecimiento Tradicional Madrileño at Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas in Madrid

Read curatorial context and practical visitor information for Chocolatería El Indio: Un Establecimiento Tradicional Madrileño at Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas in Madrid

Exhibition summary

This display preserves the historic 'Chocolatería El Indio', a traditional Madrid establishment active for nearly 150 years before its acquisition by the Museo del Traje. It showcases the shop's original interior, furniture, and machinery, offering insight into traditional commerce and chocolate production in Madrid.

Curatorial context

The Museo del Traje presents 'Chocolatería El Indio: Un Establecimiento Tradicional Madrileño', a significant display preserving a cherished piece of Madrid's commercial heritage. Founded in 1848, 'El Indio' was a hallmark of traditional commerce, maintaining its original ambiance and a focus on chocolate production for almost 150 years. The establishment was recognized as a 'Traditional Madrileño Establishment' in 1984, meeting criteria such as pre-1900 foundation, consistent product manufacturing, family transmission, and preservation of its original atmosphere and style. The display includes detailed descriptions of the shop's interior, featuring exquisite furniture, display cabinets, a prominent bronze scale, and the unique 'El Indio' sculpture which was central to the chocolate milling machinery. The text also delves into the history of chocolate consumption in Spain and the evolution of 'ultramarinos' (delicatessen/grocery) shops, contextualizing 'El Indio' within broader social and economic changes. Acquired by the museum in 1993-1994, the shop's components were carefully dismantled and transported to become part of the Museo del Traje's collection. This exhibit serves not only as a historical artifact but also as a window into a disappearing aspect of urban life and traditional craftsmanship, highlighting the museum's role in safeguarding cultural heritage.

Admission and ticket notes

The page mentions that 'Model of the Month' talks related to the display are free and take place in the exhibition rooms on Sundays at 12:30 for 30 minutes. General admission details for the museum are not specified in relation to this exhibit. Visitors are advised to check for model of the month talks which include this exhibit.

Chocolatería El Indio: Un Establecimiento Tradicional Madrileño key exhibition facts

Review exhibition status, schedule, venue context, and attribution details for Chocolatería El Indio: Un Establecimiento Tradicional Madrileño at Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas in Madrid

Venue
Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas
Current status
Open now
Exhibition schedule
Information not currently available
Artist line / attribution
The display details the history of the Vela brothers, Cipriano de Diego, Pablo Ruiz Santamaría, and his children Francisco, Josefa, and María Ruiz de Diego, who were key figures in the operation of Chocolatería El Indio. The descriptive text also references the writer Paloma Díaz-Mas for her literary portrayal of the 'El Indio' sculpture in her novel.
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