Parures De Samourais

Histoires De Carres > Spring-Summer 2017

The samurai warriors of medieval Japan had richly ornamental armour. Fourteen such elements from the 14th to the 18th century can be found in this composition designed by Aline Honore. At the centre is a suit of armour in bronze, iron, gold, leather, silk and lacquer, crafted by two armourers of the Myochin school. This adornment from the Edo period (1615-1868) is certain to have belonged to a daimio - a rich landowner. The ornamental details are preserved at the Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum in Dallas, United States. The private collection of samurai armour put together by the 3rd and 4th generations of the great art-collecting family, the Barbier-Muellers, contains close to a thousand pieces and is one of the largest of its kind in the world.