One of the finest private collections of Samurai armor returns to Texas after an international tour. Beginning this month, the Kimbell Art Museum hosts Samurai: Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection as its first special exhibition in the new Renzo Piano Pavilion.
Organized by the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum in Dallas, the exhibition includes more than 140 pieces spanning eight centuries, highlighting the craftsmanship and ceremony of Japanese warfare from early warlords to the era of shogun elite.
"We're able to present a much larger selection from the collection than what they normally can show in Dallas," says Jennifer Casler Price, curator for Asian and non-Western art at the Kimbell. Visitors will be able to see how the function of Japanese armor has changed over time as weapons and social climates evolved. In fact, the majority of pieces date to the peaceful Edo period (1615-1868).
"By the time you get to the Edo period, you have hit the height of technical craftsmanship and creativity," she explains. "The function of armor became less about warfare and more about status, prestige and display."
Twenty full suits of armor are on display, including three warriors on armored horses. Close to 30 helmets are also included in the exhibition. They illustrate the diverse creativity and unique design of different Samurai families.
"There's a whole set of armor and other accouterments that belongs to a well-known family, the Mōri clan. Their origins go back to the 12th century, and the armor has been passed down generation to generation," says Price.
The exhibit also tells the story of the artisans who made each intricately designed piece. "A whole variety of craftsman created one piece of armor," Price explains. "All working together to create one of the most highly specialized art forms, certainly in Japanese art, and maybe in the world."
The exhibit opens Feb. 16 and runs through Aug. 17.
