Nov 25, 2013

Samurai! at the Portland Art Museum


Samurai armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection will be on display until January 12, 2104



Travel back in time and discover remarkable objects that illuminate the life, culture, and pageantry of the samurai, the revered and feared warriors of Japan—from one of the finest and most comprehensive collections in the world. Samurai! Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection presents a treasure trove of battle gear made for high-ranking warriors and daimyo (provincial governors) of the 14th through 19th centuries. The exhibition illustrates the evolution of the distinctive appearance and function of samurai equipment through the centuries and examines their history.

During the centuries covered by the exhibition, warfare evolved from combat between small bands of equestrian archers to the clash of vast armies of infantry and cavalry equipped with swords, spears, and even matchlock guns. Arms and armor were needed in unprecedented quantities, and craftsmen responded with an astonishingly varied array of armor that was both functional and visually spectacular, a celebration of the warrior’s prowess. Even after 1615, when the stern rule of the Tokugawa military dictatorship brought an end to battle, samurai families continued to commission splendid arms and armor for ceremonial purposes. Because the social rank, income, and prestige of a samurai family were strictly determined by the battlefield valor of their ancestors, armor became ever more sumptuous as the embodiment of an elite warrior family’s heritage.

Drawn from the renowned Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller collection, Samurai! features the full panoply of warrior regalia, with full suits of armor, helmets and face guards, weapons, horse trappings, and other battle gear. Highlights include helmets of lacquered metal adorned with emblems often inspired by nature—which signaled the status of the wearer, differentiated samurai from each other, and also frightened the enemy on the battlefield; armored horses carrying combat-ready samurai; and a full ensemble of armor and ceremonial jackets worn by the high-ranking samurai of the Mōri family. The Mōri, who traced their roots to famous warriors of the13th century, were among the most powerful warrior families in western Japan. Portland will be the only West Coast venue for Samurai!

4 comments:

  1. we tried to see this show recently and they were only letting members in.
    now we will try to make it another time, as we would like to see it.

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    1. Marilyn, I have not seen this yet. We are planning to see it with friends from Seattle during the Christmas break.

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  2. This exhibition was in Boston some months ago and it was well worth the trip. The collection is perhaps strongest in its ability to show changes in armor as design progressed through a wide period of time. Tea people will further be able to appreciate some items from individuals contemporary to Rikyu.

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    1. Anonymous,
      Thank you for your review. It seems like an exciting exhibition. I haven't seen it yet. I am going to see it with friends between Christmas and New Years. Since we just had a kumihimo workshop, I am interested in seeing how the use of the braided cord is used in tying the armor together.

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