Arms and armor

The Museum’s collection of arms and armor is the second largest in the United States. Ranging from ancient Egypt to nineteenth-century Japan, this collection is comprised of over 1,500 objects. At its heart is a diverse array of full suits of armor from around the world.

The core of this collection is the John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection. Previously on view at Worcester’s Higgins Armory Museum until its closure, the collection was acquired by the Worcester Art Museum in 2014. A new gallery dedicated to arms and armor will open in the near future, enabling more of the collection to be on view simultaneously than ever before.