Lethal Beauty: Samurai Weapons and Armor


The striking duality of deadly weaponry forged with artistic beauty is on full display in Lethal Beauty: Samurai Weapons and Armor. With 63 works by master craftsmen from the 13th to 20th centuries, the exhibition features five full sets of armor, masks, helmets, and warrior hats. Remarkable weapons include long and short swords, daggers, and examples of early Japanese rifles. The exhibition also showcases a pair of 17th-century folding screens by a Kano school artist depicting battle scenes from the famous Tale of the Heike, one of the greatest warrior epics in Japanese literature that marks the dawn of samurai honor, valor, and fortitude.

Lethal Beauty was curated by Dr. Andreas Marks, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Collection of the Clark Center, and tour organized by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC.

In addition to highlights of the Samurai epoch, an exhibition-within-the-exhibition focuses on exquisite kimono from the Alexander Murray Collection. Equal in splendor to the decidedly masculine samurai garments, kimono and the world of women’s fashion are elegantly portrayed in pieces ranging from the eighteenth to twentieth centuries. The ultimate in couture, each garment was exclusively designed, hand-dyed, painted, stitched, and embroidered to create a one-of-a-kind object.

Funding for this exhibition provided by ArtsWestchester, with support from Westchester County Government, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, as well as the Museum’s Exhibition Patrons. Additional sponsorship provided by Betty Himmel, Kim and John Latham, and The Japan Foundation New York.

Event Location and Ticket Information

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Katonah Museum of Art
134 Jay Street
Katonah, NY
Handicap Accessible? Yes

Date: Sunday, October 12, 2014 - Sunday, January 4, 2015
Times: All Day

Ticket pricing:

$10.00 - Adults
$5.00 - Seniors and Students
Free - Members and Children under 12

Presenter: Katonah Museum of Art
Presenter Phone: 9142329555
Presenter Website: katonahmuseum.org