Author picture
3 Works 43 Members 1 Review

Works by J. Gabriel Barbier-Mueller

Tagged

Common Knowledge

Gender
male

Members

Reviews

Elements of Japanee armor are often stunning works of art created by master craftsmen of extraordinary skill and imagination. In particular, the rich combination of material and techniques involved in the production of yoroi (armor) and kabuto (helmets) finds no counterpart in other areas of the world. Yet, the importance of this unique art form has largely remained undiscovered in the West.

This book introduces the samurai armor colelction of the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller family to the public for the first time. Built over the past twenty-five years and one of the largest of its kind in the world, the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller collection consists of several hundred objects that display strong sculptural qualities. Included are suits of armor, helmets, masks, and horse armor, dating from the twelfth to the nineteenth centrry. Many are considered masterpieces. The collection is currently showcased in a traveling exhibition that has been presented at musee du quai Branly, Paris (November 2011-January 2012), the Musee de la Civiilsation, Quebec City (April 2012-Februray 2013), and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (April-August 2013) in an exhibition titled, Samurai! Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection.

Essays written by a group of scholars and speciaists provide a sociohistorical context for the objects and invite the reader to have an exciting look into the world of the samurai. Morihiro Ogawa, Special Consultant for Japanese Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, gives an overview on the development and construction of samurai armor. Additional contributions by leading experts cover a wide range of topics such as the development of samurai culture, the roles of women, castle architecture, horse armor, changing warfare, and bushido (the way of the warrior). The in-depth discussions of these themes further contemporary knowledge of samurai culture.

The catalog following the essays features one hundred and twenty works of art from the collection acompanied by detailed descriptions. The objects represent the astounding variety of stylistic and technical approaches used by Japanese armor craftsmen. Readers of varied backgrounds will enjoy the dazzling beauty of the armor while gaining a fuller understanding of this dynamic cultural expression.

Contents

Foreword Malcolm Rogers
Collector's story by Gabriel Barbier-Mueller
Interview with Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller
Introduction: Japanese armor deconstructed by Morihiro Ogawa
Timeline
Map
The warrior in Japanese history by John Stevenson
The roles of women of the samurai class by Sachiko Hori
Armor of wood and stone: Castles of the samurai by Stephen Turnbull
Kawari Kabuto: Helmets 'Transformed' by John Anderson
Horse accoutrements and mounted warfare by Ian Bottomley
Arms and armor from the Kafun Period to the introduction of firearms by Thom Richardson
Japanese arms and armor after 1600 by Gregory Irvine
Bushido: The way of the warrior by Eric Muelien
Catalog Bernard Fournier-Bourdier
Helmets
Masks
Suits of armor
Textiles and accessories
Weaponry and battle
Horse accoutrements
The Mori Ensemble
Components of an armor
Glossary
Supplemental catalog information
Scientific committee
… (more)
 
Flagged
AikiBib | May 29, 2022 |

You May Also Like

Associated Authors

Statistics

Works
3
Members
43
Popularity
#352,016
Reviews
1
ISBNs
2
Languages
1