A
fascinating Southern California premiere covering 7 centuries of
battle gear worn by the Samurai is currently on view at LACMA, from
the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection.
Spanning
from the 12th through the 19th centuries, the
exhibit illuminates the life, culture and pageantry of the samurai
warriors marking the evolution of both the functional and visually
sumptuous Samurai accoutrements through the centuries.
Meaning
“to serve by one's side”, the samurai class existed from the year
792 until its dissolution in 1868 during the Meiji Restoration.
Starting as combat gear for equestrian archers, it evolved into full
scale infantry and cavalry armies equipped with spears, swords and
matchlock guns. After Tokugawa shogunate's 1615 ushering of an era
of peace, the arms and armor became ornamental ceremonial gear
symbolizing the ancestral battlefield valor, rank, income, prestige
and the elite heritage of samurai families.
Showcased
are over 140 pieces of armor, helmets, handheld weapons and
horse-clad armors. Worn by senior warriors and feudal provincial
governors, the elaborate suits of armor, helmets and face guards were
made of iron, leather and precious as well as semi-precious metals
weighing a total of 20 to 45 lbs, very light when compared to
European or Persian armor. The well displayed exhibit includes an
impressive, life-size presentation of charging samurai horsemen at
the entrance of the exhibit.
Highlights
include the Armor of the TatehagidÅ Type shown with horse
armor, a horse mask and horse tack symbolizing the prestige and power
of their owners during ceremonies that paid tribute to high ranking
leaders or marked special occasions. Before the 17th
century samurai horses did not wear armor. Also featured are
exquisitely decorated helmets, such
as the Flame Helmet
representing the Flaming Jewel.
The
Armor of the OkegawadÅ Type is one of three suits of armor in
the exhibition that illustrate how armor became increasingly
decorative during the 250 years of peace that marked the end of
samurai dominance.
Comprised
of LAMCA holdings and local loan collections, the Art of
the Samurai: Swords, Paintings, Prints and Textiles complements
the Japanese Armor exhibit.
Highlights include the Battle of
Ichinotani and Battles of Dan-no-ura and Yashima, a 17th
century six panel screen depicting historic battles.
Also featured is one
of the finest examples of masculine samurai calligraphy, the Snow,
Moon, Flower Calligraphy, a set
of three hanging scrolls made by a leading member of the Tokugawa
Shogun family.
The
Samurai Japanese Armor exhibit runs through
February1, 2015, at the
Resnick Pavilion. The Art of the Samurai runs through March 1, 2015,
at the Pavilion for Japanese Art, 5909 Wilshire Boulevard, Los
Angeles, CA 90036. For
more information call (323) 857-6000 or visit http://www.lacma.org/
