Arms & Armour

Glenbow Museum has a world-class collection of European and Japanese arms and armour; our Japanese collection is the largest in Canada. It was mostly collected by the Schuller family who purchased it at private sales and auctions in the 1930s and 1940s and later exhibited it in 'The Million Dollar Show.'

Joachim and Lucie Schuller in their museum of art and chivalry in New Hampshire shortly before it was shipped to Calgary in 1973

Reproduction Gothic fluted field harness
Ernst Schmidt workshop, Germany, late 19th century

This high quality reproduction was made in the fashion of armour originally made for Archduke Sigismund of Tyrol around 1475. Glenbow Museum has 36 complete European armours in its collections in addition to mail (chainmail) shirts, separate helmets, shields and other armour sections which range in age from the 15th century to the 20th century.

Japanese O-Yoroi armour for high ranking samurai
Kamakura or Muromachi period (12th-14th century)

Japanese armour is full of symbolism, including reference to the religion of the wearer, his family association and his general importance. Glenbow Museum has 29 complete Japanese armours in its collections in addition to swords (katana, wakizashi, tachi), sword fittings (such as tsuba and kozuka), saddles (including abumi) and other items related to the samurai class.

Schiavona
Italian, ca. 1750

The Schiavona is one of the signature swords of the late Renaissance. It first saw use among the Venetian Doge guard in the 16th century and was later adopted by heavy cavalry units in various European armies. There are 500 swords in the Arms and Armour collection with emphasis on Renaissance (primarily rapiers) and 19th century officers' swords.

Spontoon
French, 1654

This type of pole arm was primarily meant to identify sergeants and serve as a rallying point in battle. Although some could also be used as weapons, this spontoon is purely decorative. Glenbow Museum has over 200 pole arms, including lances, halberds, spontoons, ranseurs, voulges, spears, partisans, pikes, glaives, and bills dating from the 13th to 20th centuries.

Jambiya
Persian, 18th century

The Jambiya is a dagger with a curved blade worn in many Islamic countries. Glenbow Museum has a fine collection of Persian arms and armour, including helmets (kulah khud), chainmail, and arm guards (bazu band). Although its strongest components are the European and Japanese collections, the Arms and Armour collection features weapons from other parts of Asia as well, including Persia, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and China.