Samurai Exhibition at British Museum 3 Feb - 4 May

[MassiveMoonHeh]

The British Museum is hosting a Samurai Exhibition from Feb through to May 2026 in the Sainsbury Gallery. Looks like they have done a lot of work on this one and it should be a goodie for those who can mane it.

 

There will also be a book for sale for those interested.

 

For more info there is a nice write up on it by Jimmy Chen:

 

https://www.thecollector.com/samurai-british-museum-book-review/

[BjornLundin]

On the topic, I will be in London 22-25th of January. Just before the exhibition. 

 

Is there any good leads for Nihonto stuff. The British museum and V&A visit is planned. Anything else in London?

 

-Björn 

[Lewis B]

4 minutes ago, BjornLundin said:

On the topic, I will be in London 22-25th of January. Just before the exhibition. 

 

Is there any good leads for Nihonto stuff. The British museum and V&A visit is planned. Anything else in London?

 

-Björn 

I think you'll be disappointed with the offerings at the V&A. Poorly illuminated cabinets and uninteresting specimens. I would skip unless you wanted to see something else eg ceramics, fabrics, Middle Eastern art etc. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Specifically Nihontō alone in quality and large quantity maybe no, but the Wallace Collection in London is well worth seeing, as is the Tower of London, plus the arms and armour in the Japan section of the Royal Armories in Leeds.

[BjornLundin]

Thank you!!!, Wallace sounds like a plan. The Tower sounded pricy but never been there. Leeds if time permits

 

A shame with the V&A, that was my best bet. 

[Lewis B]

The exhibition at the British Museum seems to be generating a fair amount of controversy. Even our Luc Taelman has weighed in. I get the impression that if you go expecting to see weapons and armour, you might be a little disappointed. YMMV

 

https://Japan-forward.com/is-the-british-museum-rewriting-samurai-history/

[Geraint]

I do love the Wallace Collection.  Not very much at all Japanese, last time I visited I think two or three swords, but extensive collections of European arms and armour including some very early pieces and a fantastic selection of very fine indo Persian weapons.  If you don't know it there are some excellent videos with Matt Easton of Scholagladiatoria and Dr, Tobias Capwell from the Wallace Collection on Youtube.

 

Might whet the appetite!

 

All the best.

[BjornLundin]

Not much in British museum in terms of Nihonto. There were one smaller size katana by Sukesada. Nice Mokumegane vase. Description was that it is inlay... hmmm. Wallace was nice but did not find any Nihonto. Nice museum thought. BM was chaotic. 

[Bugyotsuji]

Day trip up to Leeds if you can make it...

[Lewis B]

Colour me impressed. Always admire a westerner who has mastered Japanese

 

 

[Brian]

Impressed.

[Bugyotsuji]

Impressed

[Hokke]

Could someone tell me what she said about the rubber ducky exhibit? The auto translate feature was spotty and nonsensical. 

[Bugyotsuji]

4 hours ago, Hokke said:

Could someone tell me what she said about the rubber ducky exhibit? The auto translate feature was spotty and nonsensical. 

She said that it was a man wearing a miniature 'replica' traditional armour sitting on a yellow rubber duck, the two elements representing different ages, the whole designed to clash or create disharmony, and that it was a work that particularly appeals to her. 

[Hokke]

@Bugyotsuji thank you sir, I appreciate it. Was she referring to "ages" as in actual age, or was she speaking to different ages of time? Thought it would be more.....clever. i dont really get it either way, but then, im not an artist.  

[Bugyotsuji]

Check out 'This is not a Samurai', and Tetsuya Noguchi.

(That should give you some background to this genius guy! Definitely weird, but intricately and uncannily accurate.)

 

PS Re 'ages'. Different times in history.