Samurai Armour on display from October

ANGUSalive is delighted to share that a magnificent suit of Samurai armour will be on display from 2 October to 3 November 2025 at Montrose Museum as part of the exhibition ‘Perspectives: Collecting the World’.

An award of £21,355 from the Angus Council Common Good Fund was received to fund this work which was undertaken by Tuula Pardoe and Will Murray from The Scottish Conservation Studio. This work is part of a wider project began in January 2024 and funded by Museums Galleries Scotland to fully catalogue and research the historic Angus World Cultures collection.

This collection and research is highlighted in ‘Perspectives: Collecting the World’ which is the result of working to decolonise the collections, open up dialogue with the global majority and join wider conversations in the museum sector about the legacies of colonialism.

The word ‘samurai’ derives from the term meaning ‘one who serves’ and refers to allegiances to military groupings which evolved around the 10th century to protect and expand provincial domains. Samurai had a profound effect on the military and political state of Japan, but they also formed their own aristocratic courts and became major patrons of the arts. This Samurai armour is comprised of layered plates designed to protect the wearer whilst allowing for flexibility of movement.

Unfortunately, it was found to be in an advanced state of deterioration and due to the complexity of the work required was not able to be displayed when the exhibition launched on 1 August 2025. Tuula and Will used moisture to straighten and relax the damaged areas of the blue and brown silk fabric, cut dyed net to fit over the damaged areas of the silk and sewed it in place for protection. The chainmail was also sewn into its original position with areas of loss and broken seams being repaired.

However, ‘Perspectives: Collecting the World’ is an evolving exhibition, and the armour will also be on display for the full run at Forfar Meffan Museum and Art Gallery from 23 January to 20 April 2026 along with more unseen objects and narratives.

Emma Gilliland, ANGUSalive Museums & Galleries Collections Lead said: “We are very grateful to Angus Council Common Good for this funding award which has enabled us conserve this special object and display it safely for visitors.”

You can find out more about the World Cultures collection at www.angusalive.scot/museums-galleries/world-cultures-collection