Message from mvhudnall
I also went though the warriors exhibit a few weeks back and am just now getting time to post up my response.
Overall I was a tiny bit dissapointed by the exhibit itself. I think it was mostly a problem of pre-concieved notions being greater than the reality. Rather like the hype for the "biggest" new movie of the season, it somehow cannot quite meet the impression you had in your mind before seeing it.
The warrior scuptures themselves were quite well done. The horse and rider at the beginning is another one you can get a good 360 degree view of, and the horse in armor is in particular work examining. Though the bodies varied in build quality and complexity, the faces were extremely well done. If you go to see this exhibit, spend some time examining the backs of the 6 figures in the end of the show. The details are wonderful, and you can really spend time appreciating them since everyone is crowded around the front and no one thinks to walk back to look.
I knew there were a limited number of full sized scuptures that they had brought to the United States, they somehow seemed less impactful when spread throughout the exhibit. The most they had in close proximity to each other was six, which didn't give the same sort of impact that a larger group might have. I do respect the museum for their arrangement, but frankly the other artifacts were quite interesting on their own and did not require the boost added by an extra warrior placed here and there.
In one of the display cases were some of the most exquisite examples off swordcrafting I've ever seen. I used to do historical reinacting including swordplay and have become familiar with the of some of the finest swordsmiths in the United States. Work intended to be used in combat and admired for their beauty as well. The two swords on display appeared superior. They were amazingly thin and flexible looking, yet uncannily sharp given their age. They utilized a chemical process to protect the blades from corrosion, and the finish served them well all these years. You can still see its irridescent shimmer on the polished surface of the blades. Look closer at the surface and you'll see a scalelike or lined texture (I don't remember which they had) that implies that damascus type forging techniques were used. These involve the layering, fusing, then folding and/or twisting of metal stock to create a unified whole that exhibits the finest properties of each of the types of material used. This is an extremely advanced technique that requires a VERY hot forge, and an advanced knowledge of not just swordsmithing but metalurgy as well. Europeans wouldn't have this knowledge for a LONG time.
I also liked the recreated garden scene. It gave you a nice idea of the luxurious side off the funerary preparations for the afterlife.
Just as interesting as the blades were the bronze works (of which the above garden scene should be included). There were some pretty cool looking architectural elements that were worth spending time looking at. You really had to sit and think about how they would be used, since the types of construction involved are so different from modern western methods.
Also outstand works of bronze were the carriage and chariot. These were absolutely amazing in quality, exhibiting some of the finest detailed casting I've seen ages. The work was in outstanding condition, including intact painted murals, wallpaper, or tapesty (I couldn't see which) in the inside of the carriage. Spend some time looking at these, they are fascinating to look at, and are one of the few works you can really spend time looking at without seeming like a roadblock to the rest of traffic.
This does bring up one irritating but understandable issue...overcrowding. It was VERY crowded. They tried to limit it by having timestamped overpriced tickets and an included audiotour to slow traffic, but with only limited success. You always seemed to be in someone's way, and it seemed like more people were always pushing to move on with others waiting to look. I couldn't really get in close for a good look for more than a few moments at a time, which I wasn't very happy about.
So, on a whole, it was a good exhibit, but would be much improved by staying in LA for long enough for it to get old...that way people who really want to sit and contemplate the work can do so 