Japanese Weapons and Armour from the Museum of Oriental Art at Ca' Pesaro in Venice

Japanese sedan chair for women at the Ca' Pesaro Museum of Oriental Art in Venice, Italy

Japanese sedan chair The collections of the Museo d'Arte Oriental in Venice mainly feature works purchased between 1887 and 1889 by Enrico Carlo di Borbone-Parma during his trip to Sumatra, China and Japan in the Far East.

The prince Enrico di Borbone-Parma (Bourbon-Parme), Count of Bardi, was the son of Duke Charles III of Parma.

His collections were first displayed in Palazzo Vendramin Calergi before being permanently installed in 1928 on the second floor of Palazzo Ca' Pesaro, on Venice's Grand Canal.

As well as many suits of armour and weapons, you can admire Japanese prints and paintings, statues of deities, Buddhas and dragons, superb objets d'art, including a carrier chairs and lacquered screens, ivory-statuettes, musical instruments and chess or Go games, and even Java marionettes.

The Museum's Japanese armour

Japanese Armour at the Ca' Pesaro Museum of Oriental Art in Venice, Italy

Japanese Armour As soon as you enter the Ca' Pesaro Museum of Oriental Art, you can admire six suits of parade armour that belonged to the feudal lords of the Edo period, from 1603 to 1868.

. These suits of armour are made of lacquered metal and are decorated with motifs enhanced by gold braiding.

Armour that, while being for parade, is nevertheless quite impressive and even disturbing, because of the embossed metal masks that concealed the faces of the Japanese fighters who wore them.

Japanese and Chinese Spears

Japanese and Chinese Spears After passing through the first room, where the parade armour is on display, a staircase leads to the upper floor.

It's a staircase that sets the tone, as you climb it between two rows of dozens of Chinese and Japanese spears.

Some of these spears were used on the battlefield, but most of them are for parade, like the armour.

Katanas
the Japanese swords

On display in various showcases are Japanese Katanas.

Japanese katanas and carrying cases at the Ca' Pesaro Museum of Oriental Art in Venice, Italy

Japanese katanas and carrying cases. These include sabres and their carrying cases, reminiscent of long bowling pins, but with purposes far removed from the sphere of games.

You can also contemplate Japanese saddles, shields and everything that made up the armament and equipment of the Japanese soldiers of the Edo period.

Richly decorated rifles and mousquets are also on display.