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The Samurai Collection

Samurai culture was one of pageantry, violence, beauty, and honor. Echoes of these traits are found in their armor. Samurai dominated Japan for nearly a millennium, playing a vital role in the course of the country’s history. Established in the Harwood District in 2012, The Samurai Collection is the only museum of its kind in the United States and is now one of the largest in the world. The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum: The Samurai Collection presents armor that once protected and adorned these fierce warriors. 

Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller began acquiring art of the samurai over thirty years ago and the collection is now one of the largest of its type in the world. The family has selectively built the collection with an intense focus on artistic detail and sculptural quality. The objects, which range in date from the fifth to nineteenth century, are presented within the Museum in a variety of rotating exhibitions—each one exploring an intriguing aspect of Japanese warrior culture. Additionally, a large exhibition of the samurai armor is currently touring through the United States, Canada, South America, and Europe. 

The Samurai Collection is housed in the historic St. Ann’s School building, originally constructed in 1927. It is a suitable setting for the collection where many can still come to learn. More displays of art from Japan and around the world can be seen in buildings throughout the Harwood District. We invite you to experience the captivating presence of these remarkable objects and encounter the fascinating world of the samurai.