The inaugural exhibition of The Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum: The Samurai Collection showcases a variety of works from the family’s collection, which has been built over a span of twenty five years. The museum will offer an introduction to the fascinating world of the samurai while presenting an intimate viewing experience of their spectacular armor and accoutrements. One section within the exhibition will highlight helmets from around the world.

One hundred and forty additional pieces from the collection, including suits of armor, helmets, masks, and weaponry, will comprise the exhibition Samouraï: armure du guerrier. Held from Nov. 8, 2011 to January 29, 2012 at the musée du quai Branly, in Paris, the exhibition will then travel to the Musée de la civilisation, Québec, where the pieces will be on display from April 4, 2012 to January 27, 2013.

In conjunction with the exhibition, a book titled The Art of Armor: Samurai Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection will be released in association with Yale University Press. The book presents a collection of essays from well-renowned scholars of Japanese art and armor in addition to an astonishing full color catalog of one hundred and twenty objects from the collection.