Age of Armor Treasures from the Higgins Collection at the Worcester Art Museum
Hans Horburger the Elder, Comb-Morion, ca 1556-86, The John Woodman Higgins Armoury Collection 2014.1094. copyright 2021 Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.
Age of Armor, organized by the Worcester Art Museum (WAM) in Massachusetts, examines the historical context of armor and the pragmatic functions it served, as well as the ideological sentiments about armor throughout time, from the Middle Ages into the modern era. The Higgins Armory Collection at the Worcester Art Museum is one of the largest collections of arms and armor in the United States, comprising more than 1,500 objects from the Medieval, Renaissance and later periods in Europe. These include full suits and individual pieces of armor, swords, and early firearms.
The exhibition features more than 80 objects from the Higgins Collection, supplemented by several pieces from the DAM’s own collections. These objects were selected specifically to connect the exhibition to the modern era, encouraging visitors to consider how the legacy of armor and the cultural meanings it reflects have endured through time, influencing modern artwork, and, in some cases, challenging traditional histories and ideals.