The October/November issue of Lonny Magazine featured this photo from popular decorator Celerie Kemble’s Central Park South apartment. The glamorous interiors included this dining room, with suits of samurai warrior armor standing guard.
Popular culture has given us an idealized view of samurai living their lives by the codes of Bushido (Way of the Warrior) and committing seppuku (ritual suicide) if dishonored. By the time this photo was taken during the peaceful Edo period, many samurai like this fellow below no longer needed to fight and became bureaucrats and administrators instead.
A fair number of antique dealers here specialize in war related items – there is always someone selling swords, tsuba (sword guards) and other paraphernalia at a market or antique show. While not completely uncommon, you don’t see armor everyday though. However I did see this set a few weeks ago and took this photo because I knew sooner or later this very question would need to be addressed.
Classic estates in Europe routinely display suits of armor, but what say you all to samurai in New York? Brilliant or creepy? Or something else entirely?
I am holding my opinion until the votes are in…Please comment on this post and let me know what you think!
Image credits:1. October-November 2010 Lonny Magazine, 2. Spacious Planet, 3. me.
creepy
thumbs down for me. I love Asian decor, but this is a little overboard for me.
While I guess I could see these in a ryokan or Asian home, I am definitely not a fan of the armor with a western/mixed decor, so I guess that is another vote for creepy….
I like history. I like history mostly related to how life was for those who came before us. It’s often a mystery. How they lived, what they ate, how they socialized, etc. Items like these tell a story. I don’t find it creepy, but actually kind of funky. I’m not sure I would buy one, but I think it’s….cool. Bring on the samurai paraphanalia!!
I love Asian decor and antiques but suits of armor/swords belong in museums. It is a thumbs down for me this time!
Love them, especially if they are as nice as Celerie Kemble’s (& aren’t dusty & don’t smell bad). Much cozier than metal armor. They would certainly scare away any potential burglars.
Even with the historic craftsmanship involved they are without a doubt creepy, and demanding in virtually any home interior. One would have to be very careful with the placement therefore, best suited to a modern “less is more” type setting otherwise could be tragic. Overall, believe best left in museums.
I suppose in the right space they are cool. Especially when understated in darker tones (and assuming they don’t have that musty, creepy “I’m really old” smell). I’m not into the brightly colored red, yellow and blue outfit on your friend on the left. I can’t say I’d feel warm and fuzzy coming home to one of those bad boys but I’d be into it if played down in a large space…
It’s just creepy….I would not want to have them in my home….I get a little creeped out even when I see war related armour and the like in museums. But some people really love to collect these items…I have a friend who has a spectacular “war” collection….even a “war room” in his home to showcase everything!
Creepy. Would never want this in my house! Interesting to read about though!
Thumbs up!
Creepy in a Graceland kind of way.
During my stay in Japan, I’ve been warned to not collect too much Asian decor that is only going to end up in the one “Asian room” I will end up designating in an effort to find something to do with it all. If I buy one of these suits of armor, could someone please remind me of this? I think it would definitely be a sign that I’ve taken it too far. That said, it’s really cool for someone else to do. I admire the designer’s vision for using these in the home. And I’m soaking up all sorts of ideas for things I really do want to acquire from the tokyojinja.com posts. Thanks Jacqueline for being such a great source of information!
Ive seen them in museums and some homes in display cabinets/boxes…this works for me…there is so much history in each and every one…
Love to look at them at an antique fair or in a shop – but no way – not in my home. Two thumbs down for the samurai.
Though not what I would gravitate toward buying, and while I have never loved suits of armor in European estates, I actually think it’s a cool concept for someone else to carry off. I didn’t find it distasteful at all in this photo, and it’s certainly a conversation piece. The pair are large, yet they don’t overtake the seemingly small room, thanks to the mirrored wall. In this particular case, I’m going to have to say, “thumbs up!”
All I can imagine is waking up late at night walking down the stairs and being greeted by this samurai…Creepy, for me..
I am loving these comments! Please keep them coming! And thanks to everyone who has commented!
I think a “piece” of the samurai battle armor is cool-like the helmet or gauntlets, but just a part. I think assembling the whole thing is more for a museum, but putting it in your home is creepy.
Creepy. But I don’t care for weapons displayed, either. No thank you.
I’ve lived with inherited and collected Asian antiques my whole life and we always mixed them in. We also have assorted 18th and 19th century swords and guns from generations of our own family, as well as a family sword surrendered in Manila by a Japanese colonel to my grandfather, who was also a colonel. It never occurred to me that it was in any way creepy, or that the Asian things should be separated to a single-motif room. I have sometimes described our decorating style as Old Army, because it is what my parents, grandparents and all their friends had. It is very similar to British Colonial style. I love it.
Your comment is so interesting because it holds a missing clue – which is context. Having a personal or family connection to things is somehow so different from purchasing them in a shop. And I agree with you completely – the whole point of the blog is to demonstrate how disparate items can be integrated into an individualistic whole. I’d love to see “Old Army” as I am a fan of British Colonial….
In a home full of men…yes. The war stuff is important to them.
I love Celerie Kemble’s dining room. It’s one of the most unique rooms I’ve ever seen. There’s a lot there but it doesn’t look at all cluttered. I especially love the rug. I’m surprised that I like it so much. It’s not my usual style.
No one would have to remind me to finish my vegies with those 2 guys at their posts. I like them because they look more festive than warrior-like. They say, “I’ve been to Japan & I loved it there.” I’d probably smile every time I looked at them.
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Thumbs-up on this topic. I think it is creepy to fill a child’s room with stuffed animals… and other creatures. I wonder what the child thinks about in the middle of the night. But I digress…
The art of Armour is steeped in thousands of years of tradition. This is not like a modern suit of Kevlar body armor used in todays skirmishes… mass produced in factories and discarded as the latest innovation arrives. Samurai armour is hand-made, one piece at a time and is embellished for and by the owner. The weapons were as much an art form as any sculpture or painting. A little known fact… Donatello (Michelangelo’s protégé) was famous for designing and chiseling (from steel and bronze) sword hilts. An art form…
I don’t find any wrong with it as long as every member of your family loves these stuffs too. No problem at all.