LACMA presents the Southern California premiere of Samurai: Japanese Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection, a major exhibition featuring battle gear made by high-ranking warriors and daimyō (provincial governors) from the 12th through the 19th centuries. On view in LACMA’s Resnick Pavilion, the exhibition traces the evolution of samurai equipment over 700 years through more than 140 objects of warrior regalia, including 20 full suits of armor, elaborate helmets and face guards, and life-size horse clad in armor. Objects from the exhibition come from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection in Dallas, one of the most comprehensive private holdings of samurai armor in the world, encompassing more than four hundred pieces and spanning 10 centuries.

Armor of the nuinobedō type (nuinobedō tōsei gusoku) and military equipment, late Momoyama period, about 1600 (chest armor, helmet bowl, shoulder guards), remounted mid-Edo period, mid-18th century, iron, lacquer, gold, bronze, silver, leather, wood, horsehair, hemp, brocade, steel, photograph by Brad Flowers, © The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum, Dallas

Japan ended its policy of mandatory military service in 792. Thereafter, provincial landowners had to rely on their own private forces for defense, a situation that gave rise to the samurai class. For nearly 700 years, beginning in 1185, Japan was governed by a military government, led by the shogun, ruling in the name of the emperor. Samurai warriors were loyal to individual daimyō—provincial lords with large hereditary land holdings. In 1600, after periods of clashes between rival clans, the Battle of Sekigahara paved the way for Tokugawa Ieyasu to unify Japan and establish a new shogunate. Fifteen shogun from the Tokugawa family ruled over a period of peace lasting some 250 years.

Horse armor (bagai), horse mask (bamen), and horse tack (bagu), early to mid-Edo period, 17th–18th century, leather, gold, fabric, wood, horsehair, lacing, and Tatehagidō armor, signed Takakage, early Edo period, 17th century, iron, leather, gold, fur, photograph by Brad Flowers, © The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum, Dallas. The Armor of the Tatehagido Type, shown with horse armor (bagai), a horse mask (bamen), and horse tack (bagu). Before the 17th century, samurai horses did not wear armor. However, horse armor symbolized the prestige and power of their owners during ceremonies that paid tribute to high-ranking leaders or marked special occasions.

During the subsequent Meiji Restoration in 1868, the emperor reasserted his authority as supreme ruler, and the samurai as an official elite class was dissolved. The term “samurai” comes from the verb saburafu, which means “to serve by one’s side.” Initially, samurai were armed servants; later, they became experts in warfare. Samurai armor consists of a helmet (kabuto), mask (menpō), and chest armor (dō) combined with shoulder guards, sleeves, a skirt, thigh protection, and shin guards. Additional articles, including a sleeveless surcoat (jinbaori), complete the set, which might weigh between 20 to 45 pounds total. Many materials were required to produce a suit of Japanese armor that was as beautiful as it was functional. Iron, leather, brocade, and precious and semiprecious metals were often used. Several artisans worked for many months to create a single suit of armor.

Armor of the Okegawadō type (Okegawadō tōsei gusoku), late Momoyama to early Edo period, late 16th century (sashimono), early 17th century (armor), iron, lacquer, bear fur, washi (Japanese paper), bamboo, gold, wood, fabric, horsehair, photograph by Brad Flowers, © The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum, Dallas. The Armor of the Okegawado Type is one of three suits of armor in the exhibition that illustrate how these outfits became increasingly decorative during the 250 years of peace that marked the end of samurai’s dominance. The aforementioned armor features three six-foot tall gilt features that acted as a private battle standard, capturing the high drama of the fully outfitted samurai warrior in all of his glory.

Samurai: Japanese Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection features both practical armor used from the Kamakuru (1185–1333) through the Momoyama (1573–1615) periods as well as the largely ceremonial objects of the Edo period (1615–1868). In keeping with LACMA’s efforts to collaborate with local firms, the museum worked with Kulapat Yantrasast of wHY architects to create a design for the exhibition that captures the kinetic energy of the objects through unique mountings, the use of models, and nontraditional modes of presentation. Additionally, across campus at the Pavilion for Japanese Art, a companion presentation, Art of the Samurai: Swords, Paintings, Prints, and Textiles, features samurai swords, sword fittings, and other weaponry from local collections; color woodblock prints depicting warriors in battle from LACMA’s collection; and a selection of garments worn by samurai culled from the museum’s Costumes and Textiles Department.

Ridged helmet (sujibachi kabuto), late Muromachi to mid-Edo period, 16th–mid-18th century, iron, lacing, fur, gold, shakudō, bronze, leather, photograph by Brad Flowers, © The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum, Dallas

Flame helmet (kaen kabuto) representing the flaming jewel (hōju no tama), signed Unkai Mitsuhisa kore o tsukuru (made by Unkai Mitsuhisa), early Edo period, about 1630, iron, lacquer, lacing, gold, bronze, photograph by Brad Flowers, © The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum, Dallas. Exquisitely decorated helmets, such as Flame Helmet Representing the Flaming Jewel, were created in fanciful shapes and adorned with embellishments, including horns, bells, bamboo, and Buddhist iconography.

Samurai: Japanese Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection is organized by the Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum, Dallas.

A version of this article originally appeared in the fall 2014 (volume 8, issue 4) of Insider, LACMA's magazine for donors.