PHILBROOK TO PRESENT MASTERPIECES OF SAMURAI ARMOR
Attributed to Myōchin Yoshimichi, Helmet, c. 1400 (Muromachi period). Attributed to Myōchin Munenori, Armor, 18th century (mid-Edo period). Iron, gold and copper alloy (shakudō), lacing, silver, wood, gold, brocade, fur, bronze, brass, and leather, 65 × 23 × 35″. ©️ The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum, Dallas. Photo: Brad Flowers
(TULSA, OK. March 3, 2025) — This spring and summer, Philbrook Museum of Art will present “Samurai: Armor from the Collection of Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller” (March 12-August 3, 2025), an exhibition featuring one of the most important collections of its type outside of Japan.
Through a dazzling array of objects spanning seven centuries, the exhibition will illuminate the exceptionally high level of design and craft dedicated to these elaborate instruments of ceremony and combat and will reveal the culture, lifestyle and artistic legacy associated with the samurai warrior in Japanese society. Assembled over nearly four decades of collecting, the exhibition comes to Tulsa from The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum: The Samurai Collection.
The exhibition will feature nearly one hundred objects, including full suits, helmets, weaponry, and full horse armor, many dating from the Edo period (1615-1868), marking the rise and expansion of the samurai, and ultimately, their dissolution in the face of changing political and military structures. These and related works dating to as early as the Kamakura period (1185-1333) will reflect upon the evolution of the “omote dogu” — the external appearance and equipment of the samurai warrior — and the legacy of such imagery across the centuries.
A robust schedule of programming created in cooperation with community partners will provide context, conversations, and many creative opportunities. From paper lantern workshops and martial arts demonstrations to tea services and flower arranging, there’s something for everyone during the run of this special exhibition.
“We are excited to bring The Samurai Collection to the Philbrook Art Museum and share these exceptional pieces with the Tulsa community, a city with a meaningful connection to Japan through its sister city, Utsunomiya,” said Niña Barbier-Mueller Tollett, President of The Barbier-Mueller Collection. “This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to explore the artistry, discipline, and legacy of the samurai. Each piece—from intricately crafted armor to beautifully adorned weaponry—tells a powerful story of craftsmanship and culture that has endured for centuries.”
Through tracing the evolution of armor from medieval to early modern Japan, this exhibition explores the artistic legacy of the samurai and offers a glimpse of samurai history that’s not to be missed.
About Philbrook Museum of Art
Philbrook Museum of Art is committed to being Tulsa’s most welcoming and engaging cultural institution, providing a unique trifecta of experiences: a historic home, world class art museum, and twenty-five acres of gardens.
Philbrook Museum of Art opened on October 25, 1939. The addition of a 70,000 square foot wing in 1990 turned the historic home into a modern museum complex. A major garden renovation in 2004 cemented the Museum’s reputation as “the most beautiful place in Oklahoma.”
Through bold action and strategic investment, we create a space for new ideas, diverse stories and perspectives, and social connection. The Philbrook Collection features more than 16,000 objects with a focus on American, Native American, and European art. Serving over 160,000 visitors annually, Philbrook shines a light on Tulsa’s storied and complex past while building a diverse and creative vision of the city’s future.
About The Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum: The Samurai Collection
The Samurai Collection has been selectively amassed over the past thirty-five years by Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller and their children. The collection spans centuries of craftsmanship, with objects dating from the 7th to the 19th centuries, including samurai masterpieces such as suits of armor, helmets, masks, horse armor, and weaponry. These extraordinary pieces are on display at the museum in Dallas’ Harwood District, located at the historic St. Ann’s School, as well as in traveling exhibitions and the lobbies of Harwood International developments.
The Samurai Collection has attracted over 1.7 million visitors worldwide to date. The museum in Dallas, which is free and open to the public, is currently hosting an exhibition, with select pieces recently displayed at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Additionally, the collection has toured sixteen cities across the United States, Canada, South America, and Europe.
Media Contact:
Jeff Martin
Director of Communications
Philbrook Museum of Art
918.748.5352
jmartin@philbrook.org