DENVER, CO.- The Denver Art Museum will present Samurai: Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection March 6, 2016 through June 5, 2016. The Samurai Collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller is one of the finest and most comprehensive collections of Japanese samurai armor and accoutrements in the world, exploring the life, culture and pageantry of the samurai from the 12th through the 19th centuries. The exhibition tells the iconic story of the samurai through 140 objects, showcasing items of folklore, religion, nature and foreign influences.

Samurai demonstrates the duality of peace and war, as well as the beauty and artistic inspiration behind the elaborate suits of armor. Samurai war regalia, including 20 full suits of armor, helmets (kabuto), face guards (mengu), weapons, horse trappings, and additional battle gear were heavily used in the Kamakura (1185--1333), Nanbokuchō (1333—1392), Muromachi (1392--1573), Momoyama (1573--1615) and Edo (1615--1868) periods, and will be on display at the DAM.

“At the Denver Art Museum, we are fortunate to be able to offer the experience of exploring many different cultures under one roof,” said Christoph Heinrich, Frederick and Jan Mayer Director at the DAM. “The historic culture of the Japanese samurai offers visitors a rich experience to gain a deeper understanding of a history that includes emperors, warlords, shoguns and the art of the samurai.”

Masterful craftsmanship will be highlighted through exquisitely decorated suits of armor such as the Mogamidō tōsei gusoku (armor), Hōrai Kunichika (helmet), and Myōchin Muneaki (mask) made of iron, lacquer, shakudō, gold, silver, copper, bronze, silk and leather. These detailed, functional and ornate suits often required many months of careful craftsmanship to complete. Samurai regalia from the late Muromachi and Momoyama period, including the skillfully crafted Eboshi kabuto (helmet) and menpō (half mask), made of iron, lacquer, gold, bronze, horn and horsehair, represent armor used for warfare purposes.

Samurai will incorporate captivating large-scale murals, lighting and spirited sounds to create an immersive exhibition experience. The exhibition begins with an epic battle scene featuring full-scale samurai on horseback, elements that encourage slow-looking at the details of war regalia, a special area highlighting the armorers’ workshop and remarkable craftsmanship, and a final section dedicated to the identity, power and inspiration behind samurai armor.

“Standing face-to-face with one of these incredible suits gives you the feeling of pure awe and wonder, knowing a real samurai once wore the armor,” said Danielle St. Peter, experience and interpretation specialist at the DAM. “Interactive opportunities in the exhibition will add to the marvel of the legendary samurai.”

The exhibition is curated in collaboration with the DAM and The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum: The Samurai Collection. The Barbier-Muellers have collected samurai armor for more than two decades and their admiration for these objects led to the creation of the Museum in Dallas.

Samurai is a traveling exhibition that has previously been on view at the Los Angeles County of Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, the Portland Art Museum, the Musée de la civilisation in Québec and the musée du quai Branly in Paris.

The exhibition will be on view in the Anschutz Gallery on level two of the Hamilton Building. Samurai will be a ticketed exhibition. DAM members receive the best ticket prices; tickets for Samurai will go on sale in early 2016.