Underwear: From corsets to bullet-bras and back Victoria and Albert Museum 2024-10-23 | Underwear: From corsets to bullet-bras and back
100 Years of Fashionable Womenswear: 1830s – 1930s | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-07-18 | Discover changing silhouettes and key fashion developments across 100 years of British and French womenswear: from a Victorian wedding dress inspired by Indian textile motifs, to an Edwardian lace day dress, and a 1930s silk evening gown designed by Charles James. Assistant Curator Claire Allen-Johnstone unpicks the fascinating details of these different garments, revealing how fashions can be cyclical, often referencing the past, but with a modern twist. 00:30 Revealing the Victorian dress01:44 Construction and key details02:40 What is Paisley?04:11 Queen Victoria’s wedding dress05:07 Revealing the Edwardian dress05:49 The ’s’-bend silhouette07:47 Construction and lace details07:50 Signs of alterations and damage09:07 Revealing the 1930s dress09:32 Who was Charles James?10:40 Historical references11:40 Modern details12:33 Materials: silk and plastic13:19 Changing fashions over 100 yearsFind out more in our fashion collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion
The puzzle of portraits | Francis Williams and Vanley Burke | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-07-11 | "It's really important to us, as a museum, to lean into what is not known" – Christine ChecinskaThis film explores two important portraits separated by three centuries: one of 18th-century Jamaican scholar and writer, Francis Williams, the other a self portrait by Vanley Burke, the godfather of Black British photography, made in the 21st century.At present it's a mystery as to who made Williams' portrait, why it was created, and for whom, leading us to question its purpose, meaning, and how truthful it really is. Although Vanley Burke has had full control over his portrait, both gentlemen appear to be caught 'between two worlds'.Follow Curator Dr Christine Checinska as we place these powerful portraits in conversation, and examine new scientific research. Hear Vanley Burke's response to the Francis Williams painting, and discuss the influences behind his own work – as well as reflections on the ongoing quest for personhood and the impact of colonial legacies.Find out more about Francis Williams: vam.ac.uk/articles/francis-williams-a-portrait-of-a-writerThe two portraits are on display in 'Between Two Worlds' at V&A South Kensington until 31 December 2023: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/between-two-worlds-vanley-burke-and-francis-williams
Ballets Russes | Salome Costume | Fashion Unpicked | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-07-05 | This extraordinary costume was designed by Serge Sudeikin for prima ballerina Tamara Karsavina for the 1913 ballet 'La Tragédie de Salomé', performed by Serge Diaghilev’s iconic Ballets Russes. Inspired by the explicit illustrations created by Aubrey Beardsley for Oscar Wilde's play 'Salome', this costume was considered highly risqué for the stage at the time – the mesh panel in the bodice gave the illusion of Karsavina being bare-breasted with orange stars covering her nipples. The body-hugging design featured short culottes and bare legs and her right leg featured painted roses on the thigh and calf to further emphasise this. Karsavina's intoxicating performance as Salome was bold and expressive and the unconventional, striking costume (described in a review of the production by the Daily Telegraph as 'weird') provided inspiration for fashion designers and cartoonists. Join Theatre & performance Curator, Jane Pritchard, as she explores the costume in detail and discusses the lasting impact of the Ballets Russes, Tamara Karsavina and the role of Salome. Discover more powerful divas from the worlds of opera, dance, music hall, pop and theatre in our exhibition, DIVA: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/diva Find out more about the Ballets Russes: vam.ac.uk/collections/diaghilev-and-the-ballet-russes Explore more costumes from the V&A's collections: vam.ac.uk/collections/costume
ASMR at the museum | Dressing a 17th-century dolls house | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-06-21 | Step into the 17th century (in miniature!) with Curator Will and Conservators Robert and Dana as they dress the delicate Nuremberg Dolls' House.Made in Germany in 1673 (as written on the chimney), this is the oldest dolls' house in the V&A's collection. At this time, dolls' houses were made to reflect the lives of the wealthy people who owned them – in this case an apothecary (chemist).Join Dana as she prepares and manoeuvres the extremely pillowy bed, and Robert as he assesses the condition of the intricate metal decorations, including plates, dishes and exquisitely painted pewter tankards. Watch as Will as oversees the operation, placing the tiny furniture into the house just as as it would have originally been.Timestamps:00:00 Ringing the bell00:20 Getting ready for display00:35 Making the bed02:44 Hanging a unicorn's head above the door03:44 Unpacking and checking condition of miniature metal kitchenware07:27 Arranging the kitchen11:36 Dolls' Houses at Young V&A11:50 Context and detail of the fully dressed dolls' houseMore ASMR at the museum: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2ihXndm5jseo_RGEGeEbPy09z0nlmZESee the Nuremberg Dolls’ House at Young V&A from 1 July 2023: vam.ac.uk/young
Couture dress and shoes | Yves Saint Laurent & Roger Vivier | Fashion Unpicked | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-06-06 | Discover a dazzling 1960s evening dress embellished with precious metal threads, beads, sequins, diamantes and coral (which was commonly used in fashion at the time but is now protected). This dress was designed by French couturier Yves Saint Laurent, who took the helm as Head Designer at the prestigious House of Dior when he was only 21 years old. Assistant Curator Chloe Gilbert talks us through the dress’s exquisite craftsmanship, construction and luxury materials, and explains how this dress was on the cusp of a new era of modern fashions for women. She also unboxes a matching pair of evening shoes, designed by legendary shoe designer Roger Vivier, famous for re-inventing stiletto heels.Find out more about 1960s fashion: vam.ac.uk/collections/1960s-fashionSee more shoes in our collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/shoes
ASMR at the museum | Clicking the shutter on Paneths plate camera | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-05-23 | // Listen with headphones for best experience //Join Curatorial Operations Coordinator Dan Cox as he shows us a plate camera made in 1927, which was owned by photographer and distinguished chemist, Friedrich Paneth. Watch and listen as Dan carefully handles the Zeiss Ikon Maximar camera to demonstrate how it works, clicking the shutter at different speeds, folding and unfolding the bellows and even letting us take a peek through the focussing screen – just as Paneth would have done.Paneth made incredible early colour photographs called autochromes which were produced on glass plates and had luminous, vibrant colours. Follow Dan as he shows some examples of Paneth's photography, whilst giving us an insight into how the specialist process of making an autochrome works.00.00 Unfolding the Zeiss Ikon Maximar plate camera00:53 Who is Paneth the chemist / photographer?01.54 How to take an autochrome – process02:24 Folding away the camera bellows2.36 Paneth photographing his students during a lecture 03:15 Examining and looking through the focusing screen4.30 How Paneth achieved his vibrant aesthetic – "Always intensify"5.30 How to set the shutter speed and pressing the cable release7.07 Rise and fall for architectural photography7.52 Shifting left and right and pressing the shutterSee more cameras and photography in our Photography Centre: vam.ac.uk/photographyRead more about autochromes in the book Colour Mania by Catlin Langford: vam.ac.uk/shop/books/photography-books/colour-mania%3A-photographing-the-world-in-autochrome-164361.htmlSee more objects from our Photography collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/photographsMore ASMR at the museum: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2ihXndm5jseo_RGEGeEbPy09z0nlmZE
Dressed to kill – armour and style | Fashion Unpicked | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-05-16 | Discover what the fashion-conscious Renaissance man would have worn on the battlefield or for jousting with Senior Curator of Metalwork, Angus Patterson.Armour was a form of clothing. The exaggerations and distortions it imposed on natural body-shape flexed and contracted with contemporary fashions. Decorated with bands of etching, blued (coloured blue by oxidation) and gilt, complemented with richly coloured silks and velvets, with dyed ostrich feathers sprouting from the helmet, on a horse armed to match, these extraordinary armours turned their discerning 16th-century owners into stylish works of art.Modern ideas about historic armour often suggest knights struggled to move as they clanked around. Nothing could be further from the truth. Astonishing artistry, care and technical ingenuity went into producing good quality armour. Beyond a castle or perhaps a suite of tapestries, there were few greater expenses for the Renaissance nobleman than his armour. It was made-to-measure, light, flexible and mobile.Explore more arms and armour in the V&A's collections: collections.vam.ac.uk/search/?q=armour&page=1&page_size=15&id_category=THES48992
Discard Theory | Thebe Magugu | Fashion in Motion | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-04-25 | Fashion in Motion is a series of live fashion shows at the V&A featuring leading fashion designers from across the world. The first African designer to receive the LVMH Young Fashion Designer Prize and winner of the International Fashion Showcase 2019, Thebe Magugu combines traditional African silhouettes with western styles and graphics. To create the looks in his collection titled 'Discard Theory', Magugu visited Dunusa – a well-known site in Johannesburg for secondhand clothes discarded by Europe and America.Addressing the impact of secondhand clothes on the African continent's identity politics, he puts his own spin on what he describes as the 'trickle-down' hierarchical view of the fashion industry. Taking materials and inspiration from the piles of clothing in Dunusa, Magugu has reworked discarded items into experimental pieces, effectively pushing them back into a luxury space.Watch as Magugu's runway looks pair silhouettes that don't relate – elegant pleated skirts with bomber jackets, abstract print motifs with regal lines – creating tension to keep the eyes engaged. Discover more: vam.ac.uk/articles/fashion-in-motion-thebe-maguguMore about Fashion in Motion: vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion-in-motion
Unboxing Shakespeares First Folio | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-04-19 | Discover the secrets of a precious 400-year-old copy of Shakespeare's First Folio – the first ever collected edition of Shakespeare's plays. Without this extraordinary book, several of Shakespeare's best-loved and most-performed plays would have been completely lost to us, including Twelfth Night, Macbeth and The Tempest. It's partly thanks to the First Folio's survival that we have today's iconic adaptations such as West Side Story, The Lion King, 10 Things I Hate About You and Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet.Follow Elizabeth James, Senior Librarian at the National Art Library, as she turns the pages to reveal evidence of how the book was originally created, and examines signs of use by an early owner. We then join Harriet Reed, Curator of Contemporary Performance as she explores the book's huge influence on film, music and culture today.You can see a copy of Shakespeare's First Folio on display in 'Re:Imagining Musicals' from August 2023: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/reimagining-musicalsMore in our Books collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/books
How was it made? Donatellos clay modelling technique | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-04-11 | Watch Sculptor Charlotte Hubbard recreate a panel from the a 15th-century terracotta sculpture, believed to have been made by the Renaissance master Donatello. Charlotte talks about the enduring appeal of clay, the importance of copying artworks, and shows us the full process – from making sketches in the museum, to building up the intricate figures of Adam and Eve by hand, aided by tools which are remarkably similar to those used in the Renaissance.You can see – and touch – the panel made by Charlotte in the exhibition Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance.00:53 Sketching the object01:42 Wedging the clay02:27 Rolling the clay and scaling up the panel03:14 Modelling with tools04:24 Building up the figures05:05 Why do we make copies?05:44 Adding detail06:41 The firing processFind out more about the exhibition and book tickets: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/donatello-sculpting-the-renaissanceMore 'How was it Made?' films: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2ihXndm5js7ANCTaZ26aocPKe74M8XJ
Contemporary hanbok design: Male hanbok suit by Guiroe | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-04-04 | Korean designer Seonock Park established her contemporary fashion brand Guiroe in 2015. Park specialises in creating tailored suits for men that combine elements of traditional Korean dress (hanbok) and western fashion.In this film, Park reveals the materials and techniques used to create the hanbok suit's unique design, her sources of inspiration, and her pride in working with traditional Korean fashion. This film was produced to accompany the V&A exhibition Hallyu! The Korean Wave, on until 25 June 2023Find out more at: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/hallyu-the-korean-waveFind out more about hanbokvam.ac.uk/articles/hanbok-traditional-korean-dress
How was it made? Glass-blowing | Elliot Walker | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-03-28 | Inspired by traditional oil paintings, sculptor Elliot Walker works with molten glass at exceptionally high temperatures and speed to create unique 3D still life sculptures. Step inside his studio to see each stage of this extremely challenging process, as he creates a new work made up of three-dimensional sliced fish, in response to a tiny fragment of a Middle Eastern glass beaker in our collection.00:00 In the studio01:10 Elliot's still life series01:45 Design inspiration from the V&A collection03:03 Hot workshop: gathering molten glass with a blowpipe03:30 Building up layers of clear and coloured glass03:56 Spiralling the coloured glass04:15 Shaping the glass with different tools04:50 'Swedish' or bubble overlay technique05:57 Creating the fish shape06:41 Adding surface texture, fins and a metallic finish08:14 Cold workshop: cutting and polishing09:17 The finished pieceFind out more about our glass collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/glass
ASMR at the museum | Unlocking a 17th-century strongbox | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-03-21 | 0// Listen with headphones for best experience //Peek into the past with Senior Curator Angus Patterson and Conservator Philip Kevin, as they carefully unlock a historic 17th-century strongbox. Originally used to keep money or documents safe, this strongbox has three secure padlocks with unique keys. Each key would have been held by a different member of the community (possibly the schoolmaster, the vicar, and the verger), meaning that the box could only be opened – and the precious contents accessed – in the presence of witnesses.Watch as Angus transports us to the 17th century, introducing us to parish church security and what might have been kept inside the box, whilst Philip gently wiggles the keys to pop the locks and examines the 500-year-old woodworm damage – luckily without any beetle poo. 00.00 Keys rattle and 17th-century lock clicks shut00.18 Meet curator Angus and conservator Philip 01.20 Wormholes from woodworm – flight holes and tunnelling02.02 Examining the strongbox in detail03.28 Opening padlock number one – corkscrew key (reveals coin slot)05.33 Opening padlock number two – warded key06.04 Opening padlock number three – pipe key07.24 Reveal of inside of strongbox09.11 Woodworm damage – conservation work to plug a hole 09.52 More about woodworm – signs of infestation, pyramidal piles of frass, how to tell that woodworm are no longer activeMore ASMR at the museum: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2ihXndm5jseo_RGEGeEbPy09z0nlmZEFind out more in our metalwork collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/metalworkSee the strongbox at Young V&A from Summer 2023: vam.ac.uk/young
A brief history of powerful gemstone amulets | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-03-07 | Bewitching and beautiful, spiritual and sparkling – colourful stones, crystals and gems have been used throughout human history for devotion and decoration. For centuries, these natural curiosities have been gathered from the landscape and crafted into intimate objects which often have amuletic (protective), or healing properties when worn, carried, or held.From an ancient Roman amethyst statuette to a charming mythical creature carved from nephrite jade, a bloodstone scorpion ring to a crystal amulet container made to hold crayfish eyes – join Assistant Curator Sophie Morris as she takes us through some of her favourite treasures, revealing the hidden meaning, magical attributes and enduring power of gemstones.00:00 What are gemstones?00:24 Rock crystal crayfish eye amulet02:00 Precious rock crystal reliquary cross03:27 Historic lapidary book04:48 Sapphire, hessonite garnet and peridot pendant07:19 Turquoise-set amulet case08:48 Nephrite jade mythical creature (qilin)10:30 Scorpion and serpent-figure bloodstone intaglios12:26 Ancient amethyst empress statuetteSee more gemstones in our jewellery collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/jewellery
How was it made? Donatellos marble carving technique | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-02-28 | Sculptor Simon Smith tells us why marble is 'the Emperor of all stones' and 'like a slice of the moon', as he recreates a panel from the 15th-century Prato Pulpit in Italy. The carved pulpit features metre-high dancing cherubs, which Simon copies from photographs – scaling them down to fit his block of marble, while retaining the spirit and joy of Donatello's original. Watch the shapes appear as Simon uses different chisels and tools to cut and refine the marble, explaining how carving is all about trapping shadows and watching light play across the surface.You can see – and touch – the panel made by Simon in our exhibition Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance.00:00 The properties of marble00:26 What is the Prato Pulpit?01:09 Drawing from photographs01:56 Traditional vs contemporary chisels03:16 The difficulties of marble carving04:22 The claw tool04:42 Trapping shadows and playing with light05:29 Filing and pumicing06:24 The spirit and joy of Donatello’s carvingFind out more about the exhibition and book tickets: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/donatello-sculpting-the-renaissanceMore 'How was it Made?' films: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2ihXndm5js7ANCTaZ26aocPKe74M8XJ
How was it made? Guilloché enamelling | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-02-21 | Guilloché is a highly decorative technique which has been used in metalwork since the 18th century to create intricate patterns – such as waves and ripples – and luminescent colours on a metal surface. Combining mechanical engraving and translucent enamels (coloured glass powder, fused to the metal with intense heat), guilloché can only be achieved with specialised machinery known as ornamental lathes. Watch as an engine turner and an enameller decorate a metal plate with the centuries-old enamelling process.00:00 Sharpening the engraving tool00:24 Preparing the metal plate00:52 Engraving with the rose engine turning lathe02:12 Preparing the engraved plate for enamelling02:20 Grinding coloured glass to make enamel03:18 Applying the enamel03:35 Firing, smoothing and polishing04:16 The finished pieceFind out more about our enamels collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/enamels
ASMR at the museum | Preparing a Bollywood poster for stretching | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-02-14 | // Listen with headphones for best experience //Join Senior Curator Divia Patel and Senior Conservator Laura Ledwina as they introduce us to a very large and eye-catching object – a hand-painted, billboard-sized poster for the famous Bollywood film, 'Devdas' (2002). Large film hoardings have historically been very important in Indian cinema, being seen along major roadsides and above the cinema itself. However hand-painted hoardings are used much less frequently today, making objects like this rare and quite special. At over two metres high and five-and-a-half metres long, the enormous poster has been taken out of storage and needs to be unrolled and stretched. This will ensure that it is smooth and free from wrinkles before going on display at Young V&A.Follow Laura in the Painting Conservation Studio as she adds strip lining to the canvas edges of the poster, so that it is secure and strong enough to be firmly pulled on a stretcher. In this meticulous process she carefully removes individual threads from new linen strips to create a fringe, cuts them to size, painstakingly chamfers the edges with a razor blade, and applies strong adhesive to hold this in place.Process:00:00 Unfurling the poster00:15 The culture of Bollywood movie hoardings 01:44 Why do we need to stretch the canvas?03:32 Demonstrating the strip lining technique04:01 Pulling strings – fast flying threads04:38 Cutting strips to size – scissor snips, no talking05:11 Fringing edges of strip lining06:00 Chamfering edges with a razor blade07:41 Ironing hot adhesive onto flat linen strips11:56 Hot spatula adhering strips onto the original canvas13:19 Gluing gossamer security tape in place14:37 Testing the strips – pulling and tugging15:42 'Devdas' movie poster – revealing the whole imageMore ASMR at the museum: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2ihXndm5jseo_RGEGeEbPy09z0nlmZEFind out more about the poster: collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O72592/devdas-2002-film-hoarding-balkrishna-artsYoung V&A: vam.ac.uk/young
A brief history of (charming and mean) Valentines cards | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-02-07 | From floral bouquets and scented hearts, to casual insults and a pig in human clothes – marvel at the sweet (and sometimes quite mean!) Valentine's cards in the V&A's collection.Join Curator Zorian Clayton as he shows us a selection of delightful cards from our Prints collection. As cards were a new phenomena in the 19th century, people went wild for the opportunity to show a special someone that they were fond of them. Ranging from one penny to three guineas (£250 in today's money), take a look at intricate mechanical cards, delicate paper cages, ceramic hearts and ruder 'vinegar valentines' sent between friends – and find out whether the language of love really has changed very much since the Victorian era. 00:00 The origins of Valentine's Day02.00 Oldest cards04:13 Novelty designs06:24 Mechanical cards08:50 Vinegar Valentines10:57 The language of flowers (floriography)13:40 Contemporary ceramic and mosaic ValentinesSee objects for yourself in our Prints and Drawings Study Room: vam.ac.uk/info/study-rooms#prints-and-drawings-study-roomFind out more in our Print collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/print
Donatellos masterpiece in marble – The Ascension | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-01-31 | Discover Donatello's masterpiece in marble, 'The Ascension with Christ giving the Keys to St Peter'. 'The Ascension' is one of the finest surviving examples of Donatello’s rilievo schiacciato (literally 'squashed relief') – a very shallow carving technique that can seem almost like drawing on the surface of the marble. Here Lead Curator Peta Motture takes us through the intricacies of this incredible piece, from the tiny city set in the distance, to charming cherubs disappearing behind the clouds, and other fascinating details which can be easy to miss. Peta also explains how the carving comes to life in changing light conditions, and discusses the mysteries which still surround its creation.00:00 Donatello's 'squashed relief' technique00:51 Christ ascending to heaven and handing the keys to St Peter01:12 The Virgin Mary01:23 Tiny city of Jerusalem01:48 What is raking light?02:17 Angels, cherubs and 'sculpting air'02:57 Creating a sense of depth, like drawing on marble03:41 The Virgin's hands04:17 What was the intention of the piece?Find out more about the Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance exhibition and book tickets: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/donatello-sculpting-the-renaissance
Costume design: Moulin Rouge! The Musical – Satines Sparkling Diamond costume | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-01-24 | Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a spectacle of romance and cabaret, set in the heart of Paris' bohemian scene during the Belle Époque era. Bringing Baz Luhrmann's landmark film to life on stage, the production is a musical mash-up extravaganza, immersing you in a world of splendour and glory. Join Costume Designer Catherine Zuber and Curator Harriet Reed as they take us behind the scenes, introducing the real Moulin Rouge and showgirls of the time, showing the original design sketches for Satine's dazzling diamond studded costume, and demonstrating how one vital mechanism is crucial for the piece's quick change on stage. 00:00 Catherine Zuber's design process0:29 What is Moulin Rouge! The Musical?00:49 Was the Moulin Rouge real?01:05 Adapting Baz Luhrmann's film01:23 Creating a costume for Satine – design sketches02:17 Researching the history of showgirls02:49 How does the costume work?03:53 Designing costumes for theatre04:12 Mounting and installing the costume in the Re:Imagining Musicals displayThe costume is now in the V&A's collection of Theatre and Performance and can be seen as part of the Re:Imagining Musicals display until November 2023. More on costume design: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL26BA2ABB49B03EC7Discover more about the Re:Imagining Musicals display: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/reimagining-musicalsMore Moulin Rouge! The Musical: moulinrougemusical.co.ukTake a look at our costume collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/costume
Diving into the digital dimension | Artist in Residence: Sian Fan | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-01-17 | Questioning what it means to be human in the digital age, interdisciplinary Artist in Residence Sian Fan combines movement with technology in order to examine the 'between space' or portal connecting the physical and virtual. Drawing on her background in contemporary and aerial dance, she suspends, fragments, and augments the body, combining this with floral costume inspired by objects from the East Asian collections. Digital Wonderlands Residency ran from 29 September 2021 – 1 July 2022. See our Digital Art and Design collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/digital-art-designFind out more about our artists in residence: vam.ac.uk/info/residencies
Studio tour with potter Edmund de Waal | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-01-10 | Join Edmund de Waal on a tour around his tranquil studio in South London.Introducing his tools, materials and environment, the potter and author gives us a unique insight into his creative process and practice. Hear the sounds of the workshop and see how words and clay intermingle in his pieces.00:00 Inside the studio00:38 Throwing on the wheel01:33 Tools01:56 Firing in the kiln room04:23 Glazes05:45 Words and materials07:59 Books and writing08:52 Creative processMore about Edmund de Waal and porcelain: vam.ac.uk/articles/on-the-white-road-edmund-de-waalSee our Ceramics collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/ceramicsEdmund de Waal's 'On the White Road' limited edition plates at the V&A shop: vam.ac.uk/shop/homeware/kitchen-dining/on-the-white-road-by-edmund-de-waal-%E2%80%93-limited-edition-163921.html
Fashion Unpicked: Banyan made from a dragon robe | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2023-01-03 | Watch curators from our Fashion & Textiles and Asia departments as they join forces to unpick the mysteries of this intriguing ensemble...At first glance we appear to have an 18th-century gentleman's waistcoat and banyan – a popular European style of gown, not dissimilar to a dressing gown – which has been made in Italy. However, a close inspection reveals that the fabric is a luxurious Chinese silk embroidered with peacock feather threads, that was once destined to become an impressive dragon robe for the Chinese Imperial Court.Join Susan and Sau Fong as they compare the ensemble with historic dragon robes in our collection to understand how the Italian tailor skilfully adapted this piece into a European-style garment, and ponder who it might have belonged to.More Fashion Unpicked films: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2ihXndm5jvJsAP3AOHQz4FcgUki-nLxFind out more in our China and Europe Collections:vam.ac.uk/collections/chinavam.ac.uk/collections/europe
ASMR at the museum | Massaging hands with bath rasps from Iran | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-12-27 | // Listen with headphones for best experience //Watch and listen as curator Fuchsia Hart unboxes a selection of late 17th and early 18th century ceramic bath rasps from Iran. Follow Fuchsia as she shows us how these luxury self-care objects would have been used in the bathhouse – much like a foot file – to massage and remove dead skin. When handled, the objects create a gentle tinkling noise. Fuschia investigates what might be making the sound, before taking a look at X-rays which reveal what is inside.0.00 What are bath rasps?0.59 Unboxing / setting the scene at the Iranian bathhouse 1.47 Egg-shaped bath rasp with textured sprigs – handling, hearing it rattle3.17 Duck bath rasp with stippled base – handling, hearing it rattle3.56 Why do bath rasps rattle?4.19 Shoe-shaped bath rasp with smooth bottom – handling, no rattle5.41 Teardrop-shaped bath rasp with cross-hatched base – handling, no rattle6.30 Cypress bath rasp – tracing wavy lines on the base, hearing it rattle8.31 X-ray reveal of what is inside 9.54 Glazed bath rasps as elite objects / self-careMore ASMR at the museum: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2ihXndm5jseo_RGEGeEbPy09z0nlmZEDiscover more in our Islamic Middle East collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/islamic-middle-east
Unboxing Christmas baubles | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-12-20 | Watch as Assistant Curator Becky Luffman gently handles and examines a selection of delicate Christmas baubles made in the historic German town of Lauscha, world-renowned for the production of festive glass ornaments. From lampworking and glassblowing, to glitter application and lacquering, find out about the care taken to make these beautiful pieces that bring us joy year after year.00:00 Introduction to Christmas baubles and handling01:27 Pinecone-shaped bauble 02:59 Glittery bauble 05:20 Tree topper 07:41 Ice lacquered bauble 08:50 Bell-shaped baubleMake your own V&A-inspired Christmas tree decoration: vam.ac.uk/articles/make-your-own-va-inspired-christmas-tree-decorationFind out about Victorian Christmas traditions: vam.ac.uk/articles/victorian-christmas-traditionsDiscover more in our glass collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/glass
A brief history of (weird and wonderful) Victorian Christmas cards | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-12-13 | From dancing Christmas puddings, to a lobster snipping at a child, cats doing acrobatics and a dog postman with human hands – explore the wide selection of (sometimes unexpected) Victorian Christmas cards in the V&A's collection!Join us as curators Alice Power and Sarah Beattie take a look at cards from our Prints collection to reveal weird and wonderful tastes from the Victorian era. In a period of great change and innovation, Victorian card companies didn't hold back on trying new ideas, resulting in everything from the now familiar image of Father Christmas and robins, to talking vegetables, fighting kittens – and even clowns!00:00 The origin of the Christmas card03:20 Traditional designs04:47 Food 06:59 Children and animals08:41 Humour10:41 Novelty/delicate cardsSee objects yourself in our Prints and Drawings Study Room: vam.ac.uk/info/study-rooms#prints-and-drawings-study-roomFind out more about the first Christmas card and Victorian Christmas traditions: vam.ac.uk/articles/the-first-christmas-cardvam.ac.uk/articles/victorian-christmas-traditionsDiscover more in our Print collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/print
Contemporary hanbok design: Cheollik Dress and Shamanism Collection by Tchai Kim | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-11-29 | Young Jin Kim is one of the most well-known designers working with hanbok (traditional Korean dress) operating today. Through her fashion brand Tchai Kim, she produces both custom-made traditional hanbok, including dansokkot (underwear), chima (skirts) and jeogori (jackets), along with modern reinterpretations of traditional hanbok designs in her ready-to-wear collections. Kim has an intuitive and hybrid approach to design mixing global styles with local folk culture.In this film, Young Jin Kim introduces the Cheollik Dress, one of her signature ready-to-wear items that is based on a traditional horse riding outfit for men, and her wildly extravagant Shamanism Collection from 2020.This film was produced to accompany the V&A exhibition Hallyu! The Korean Wave, on until 25 June 2023: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/hallyu-the-korean-waveFind out more about hanbok:vam.ac.uk/articles/hanbok-traditional-korean-dress
Fashion Unpicked: red velvet dress and elegant organza grand boubou | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-11-22 | Join Curator Elisabeth Murray as she examines an embroidered 'grand boubou' and velvet dress from the wardrobe of adult education specialist and women's literacy advocate – Professor Lalage Jean Bown OBE (1927 – 2021). Lalage Bown spent her career working to establish and expand adult education programs in Ghana, Uganda, Zambia and Nigeria, with a particular focus on the empowerment of women through literacy. She was also instrumental in promoting the incorporation of work by African authors into university curricula, which led to the publication of her book Two Centuries of African English in 1973. A woman of sartorial flair, whilst living in Africa between 1949 and 1981 she amassed a large wardrobe. Typically purchasing clothes from popular local tailors and dressmakers, she'd take recommendations from her students and wear the fashionable styles of the moment. Made by a local tailor in Dakar, Senegal, Lalage Bown's elegant organza grand boubou features machine-embroidered silver flowers, and has a head-tie in the same fabric. Accompanied by a dark green pagne (skirt) along with a sleeveless peplum top, this piece was designed to make a statement. Her made-to-measure red velvet dress was created by Nigerian fashion designer, Shade Thomas Fahm, to receive her OBE at Buckingham Palace. Complete with a matching hat styled to look like a gèlè (head wrap), Shade recalled the cold English weather and swapped her usual soft silks, for a rich, red velvet.Find out more about Professor Lalage Bown: vam.ac.uk/articles/a-life-through-clothes-professor-lalage-bown-obeMeet iconic fashion designer Shade Thomas Fahm: vam.ac.uk/articles/nigerias-first-fashion-designer-shade-thomas-fahmSee more Fashion Unpicked films: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2ihXndm5jvJsAP3AOHQz4FcgUki-nLxSee her outfits in the Africa Fashion exhibition until 16 April 2023: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/africa-fashion
ASMR at the museum | Library experience 2: reading feminist magazines | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-11-15 | // Listen with headphones for best experience //Join Digital Content Producer Hannah Kingwell as she visits the National Art Library at the V&A – a calm and tranquil yet deeply sensory space, which is open to all. Follow Hannah as she looks through iconic feminist magazines from the 1970s and 80s in the Library. Listen as she turns the pages of the first independently published edition of Ms. Magazine – co-founded in 1971 by activists Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman Hughes – along with copies of Spare Rib Magazine, which challenged stereotypes of women and supported collective action. These magazines played an important role in the late 20th-century women's liberation movement across Britain and America. Come along and experience the National Art Library for yourself: vam.ac.uk/info/national-art-libraryWelcome to the Library:00:00 Opening a book stand00:24 Unlocking the library door, selecting a desk token, walking in00:56 Preparing a desk and setting up book stand01:34 Typing, talking to librarian 01:58 Sliding magazines out of paper folder, placing magazines on book stand 02:25 Page turning02:38 Ms. Magazine, 1972, page turning02:57 Spare Rib Magazine, 198203:15 Page turning of Ms. Magazine04:49 Rain sounds04:58 How to order books and magazines at the National Art Library (whispering)05:24 Typing, clicking04:49 WhisperingFind out more about Spare Rib Magazine: bl.uk/spare-ribMore about magazines in the V&A's collection: vam.ac.uk/articles/annals-to-zeitschrift-an-a-z-of-magazines-and-journals#slideshow=683058707&slide=0Search the Library Catalogue: vam.ac.uk/info/national-art-library#search-the-library-catalogueMore ASMR at the museum: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2ihXndm5jseo_RGEGeEbPy09z0nlmZE
Costume conservation: My Fair Lady – Eliza Doolittle | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-11-08 | This fragile silk costume was once worn on the West End stage by Julie Andrews in her role as Eliza Doolittle – star of the classic musical My Fair Lady. Designed by iconic designer and photographer Cecil Beaton, the exquisite ballgown was influenced by Beaton’s glamorous mid-century fashion photography. Follow the gown’s transformation in our Conservation studio, as we prepare it for display in our Theatre and Performance galleries.00:00 What is ‘My Fair Lady’?00:56 Looking at the dress in detail02:00 Mounting concerns and solutions03:26 Examining the dress and deciding conservation process 04:58 Dyeing silk crepeline06:51 Cecil Beaton costume designs08:02 Catherine Zuber, costume designer of 2018 adaptation08:51 Supportive straps09:42 Final mounted dressThe costume can be seen as part of the Re:Imagining Musicals display until November 2023. Discover more about the Re:Imagining Musicals display: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/reimagining-musicalsMore about My Fair Lady: myfairladymusical.co.ukTake a look at our costume collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/costume
A journey into the history of porcelain | Edmund de Waal | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-11-01 | Join master potter and writer Edmund de Waal as he takes us on a journey into the history of porcelain. Walking us through the remarkable stories of four extraordinary objects from the V&A's collection – a blue and white ewer, a delicate white cup, Wedgwood's First Day's vase, and a sturdy floral mug – de Waal reveals how he has reflected their histories in his own collection of fine bone china plates, titled 'On the White Road'. Beginning in Jingdezhen, China – the place where Marco Polo first encountered porcelain in the 13th century – we travel along the Silk Road to Europe, where the material is continuously reinvented. The Meissen factory cracks the mystery of how to make porcelain in 18th century Germany, Josiah Wedgwood in Stoke-on-Trent revolutionises the world of ceramics in England, and determined Quaker chemist William Cookworthy dedicates 20 years to creating porcelain in his Plymouth home laboratory. Edmund de Waal's 'On the White Road' limited edition bone china plates are available to purchase from the V&A shop: vam.ac.uk/shop/homeware/kitchen-dining/on-the-white-road-by-edmund-de-waal-%E2%80%93-limited-edition-163921.htmlFind out more about the V&A's ceramics collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/ceramics
A brief history of: Vampires | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-10-25 | From a pressed specimen of a dead bat, to a 19th-century photograph of gothic ruins, to an AIDS awareness poster from the mid-1990s, explore the legacy of Bram Stoker's classic horror story 'Dracula' across the V&A's collections.Published in 1897 at the height of Gothic literature, Stoker's shocking portrayal of the suave and seductive, yet deadly Count Dracula, soon came to embody popular representations of the vampire in art, literature and film. Join us as curators Lydia Caston and Ruth Hibbard unbox objects from our Prints, Posters, Photography and Drawings collections to reveal Dracula's haunting presence and lasting influence as a symbol of death, decay, degeneration and contagion.00:00 What is a vampire?00:30 Who is Dracula?01:34 Vlad the Impaler02:48 Whitby Abbey photograph04:40 Bat drawing and specimen07:03 Pure Evil and Satan Sowing Terror prints09:28 Vampires in film: Hammer Horror poster11:54 Blood, sex and contagion: Aids awareness posterSee objects yourself in our Prints and Drawings Study Room: vam.ac.uk/info/study-rooms#prints-and-drawings-study-roomDiscover more in our Photography, Print and Poster collections:vam.ac.uk/collections/photographsvam.ac.uk/collections/printvam.ac.uk/collections/posters
Costume design: SIX the Musical – Catherine of Aragon | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-10-18 | SIX the Musical is a pop-Tudor mashup, fusing historical and contemporary references to tell the story of the six wives of Henry VIII. Costume designer Gabriella Slade and costume supervisor Justin Allin take us behind the scenes, revealing the secrets of Catherine of Aragon’s striking glitzy gold costume, inspired by historical portraiture, architecture and stained glass – but with a nod to pop superstar Beyoncé. First presented by Cambridge University students at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017, SIX the Musical has since gone on to huge professional success in London's West End, on Broadway and internationally. It has also been celebrated for its relative historical accuracy, with songs such as 'No Way' sampling components from the real-life Queen Catherine of Aragon's 'Blackfriars speech', in which she pleaded for clemency from King Henry VIII.00:00 What is SIX the Musical?01:10 How to design for the stage01:37 Creating a costume for Catherine of Aragon02:14 Inspiration from Tudor objects05:38 The design process and features of the costume10:10 Installing the costume in the Re:Imagining Musicals displayThe costume is now in the V&A’s collection of Theatre and Performance and can be seen as part of the Re:Imagining Musicals display until November 2023. Discover more about the Re:Imagining Musicals display: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/reimagining-musicalsMore about SIX the Musical: sixthemusical.com Take a look at our costume collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/costume
How was it made? Glass engraving | Katharine Coleman | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-10-11 | One of only five glass engravers left in Britain who uses the centuries-old technology of cutting using a copper wheel, Katharine Coleman walks us through her beautiful, intricate engraving process, to create a unique glass object inspired by our collections.***Process:00:00 Katherine Coleman0:29 Sketching the design1:15 Inspiration from the V&A’s glass gallery2:04 Refining the Gingko leaf design and sourcing glass blanks 3:05 Drawing the design onto the glass blank and fixing using a diamond-tipped drill 4:02 Cutting away the background using sintered diamond wheels 4:40 Mixing a grit and oil paste, setting up the copper wheel5:44 Engraving using the wheel 6:12 Pre-polishing the clear glass background using fine white corundum wheel and water drip 6:44 Polishing, marking out the detail, and cutting using small diamond-coated bur mounted in a spindle 7:06 Removing the permanent ink using methylated spirits with a brush 7:16 The finished piece Find out more about our glass collections: vam.ac.uk/collections/glass
Fashion Unpicked: couture ensemble by Imane Ayissi | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-10-04 | Join Senior Curator Christine Checinska as she examines Imane Ayissi's striking fuchsia couture ensemble from his Autumn/Winter 2019 'Mbek Idourrou' collection. Comprised of palazzo trousers and a satin cape fringed with luxuriously long Madagascan raffia, the ensemble creates a mesmerising sound. Rectangular in shape, the cape drapes ingeniously around the back and shoulders, elegantly coming to life when worn.Born in Cameroon in 1969 to champion boxer Jean-Baptiste Ayissi Ntsama and Julienne Honorine Eyenga Ayissi – the first Miss Cameroon, Imane Ayissi founded his eponymous label in Paris in 2004. He is known for his glamorous collections which mix beautiful textiles from the continent with classic French couture techniques and silhouettes, and his designs have been worn by names such as Zendaya and Angela Bassett. See the ensemble in the Africa Fashion exhibition until 16 April 2023: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/africa-fashionMore about Imane Ayissi: vam.ac.uk/articles/fashion-unpicked-imane-ayissiSee more Fashion Unpicked films: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2ihXndm5jvJsAP3AOHQz4FcgUki-nLx
ASMR at the Museum | Library experience: handling and care of precious books | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-09-27 | // Listen with headphones for best experience //Join librarians Vicky Worsfold and Caroline Penn as they guide you around the National Art Library at the V&A – a calm and tranquil yet deeply sensory space, which is open to all. Follow Vicky as she shows you how to handle precious books using a book sofa and weights (also called book snakes), and join Caroline as she cares for fragile objects with crinkly spines. Listen as they turn the pages of a 19th-century treasure from the library – a very large book called an elephant folio. Titled ‘The Birds of America’ by John James Audubon, it contains exquisite illustrations of birds, and is an example of a book that you could order. Come along and experience the National Art Library for yourself: vam.ac.uk/info/national-art-libraryWelcome to the Library:00:00 Pulling / pushing books on shelves00:27 Typing00:36 Talking to the Librarian – how to access books01:13 Using a book sofa and book snakes04:08 Elephant folio04:55 Page turning09:35 (Whispering) tying a fragile book with linen tape11:31 (No talking) tying a fragile book with linen tapeSearch the Library Catalogue: vam.ac.uk/info/national-art-library#search-the-library-catalogueMore ASMR at the museum: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2ihXndm5jseo_RGEGeEbPy09z0nlmZE
The Raphael Cartoons: Making the tapestries | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-09-20 | The Raphael Cartoons are considered one of the greatest treasures of the Renaissance in the UK. These huge, full-scale designs for tapestries were created by Raphael – one of the most important masters of the Renaissance period. Commissioned by Pope Leo X (shortly after his election in 1513), for the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Palace, the Cartoons depict key episodes of the lives of Saint Peter and Saint Paul.This film reveals the complex process in designing the Cartoons and their translation into tapestries.Find out more about the Raphael Cartoons: vam.ac.uk/collections/raphael-cartoons
King William IIIs underwear | Fashion unpicked | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-09-06 | This rare and fascinating 18th-century undershirt has a provenance connected to King William III of England...Serving as underwear in the 1700s, shirts were usually worn out and then recycled to make paper, but this one has survived for centuries. It is made of the finest quality Dutch linen and stamped with the initials 'HW' – perhaps Henry Watkins, the King's Gentleman of the Bedchamber. Watch as we uncover the shirt's secrets and prepare it for display in the British Galleries.Find out more menswear in the 'Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear' exhibition: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/fashioning-masculinities-the-art-of-menswearDiscover more in our Fashion Collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion
Magician of the desert: Alphadi | Fashion Designer | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-08-30 | Known as the 'magician of the desert', fashion designer Alphadi references African histories in his work, creating designs to represent strong women – independent and dynamic, pursuing their dreams.Born in Timbuktu in Mali just before the country's independence from France, Alphadi uses his fashion as a vehicle for unity and prosperity. His designs celebrate the beauty of the African continent, as well as its rich histories and cultures. Apprenticed to master couturier Mister Ouseman Chirfi between the ages of seven and twelve, he learnt fashion design at an early age and later studied at the Atelier Chardon Savard, Paris. With global ambition, he has opened boutiques all over the world, including in Casablanca, New York, Accra, and locations in Martinique and Spain. In 1998 he founded the Festival International de la Mode Africaine (International Festival of African Fashion) or FIMA, supported by UNESCO. The first event, hosted in the Tiguidit desert in Niger, included designers such as Chris Seydou, Pathé'O, Oumou Sy, Yves Saint Laurent and Kenzō. Over 5000 people from more than 52 countries flew to the desert to witness Alphadi's fashion and culture extravaganza.Discover more about Alphadi:vam.ac.uk/articles/magician-of-the-desert-alphadiFind out more about the Africa Fashion exhibition: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/africa-fashion
Sometimes I make a mistake & it’s the best thing I’ve ever done | Daniel Lismore | Fashion in Motion Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-08-23 | Fashion in Motion is a series of live fashion shows at the V&A featuring leading fashion designers from across the world. Hailed by Vogue as 'England's Most Eccentric Dresser', artist and activist Daniel Lismore describes himself as a 'living sculpture'. Using his body as a canvas, he creates monumental three-dimensional wearable artworks which combine haute couture, charity shop finds, vintage fabrics, found objects and religious paraphernalia. Sustainability sits at the heart of Lismore's design philosophy as he creatively re-uses and upcycles materials.Naturally curious about how things are made, Lismore deconstructs garments to learn more about their structure. Watch as he showcases extravagant life-size ensembles from his exhibition 'Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken', alongside his 2022 'Jubilee' look. Here he tells us about his unique approach to creating – taking inspiration from experiences in his father's auction house as a child, lucid dreaming and burying things to dig them up years later. Having styled the likes of Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, Naomi Campbell, and Boy George whilst he was Creative Director of luxury label Sorapol, Lismore has also designed for the English National Opera, exhibited at the Venice Biennale as well as Miami Art Basal and the Reykjavik Arts Festival. Find out more: vam.ac.uk/articles/fashion-in-motion-daniel-lismoreMore Fashion in Motion: vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion-in-motion
Slavery, power, gender and the climate crisis | Sokari Douglas Camp | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-08-16 | Sokari Douglas Camp is a British-Nigerian sculptor based in London. Describing her practice as "welding, cutting and bending sheet steel and recycled oil barrels into shape", she draws from her Kalabari heritage and the history of European art, creating pieces that address socio-political issues and the history of the African Diaspora. Born at a time when oil was discovered in the Rivers State in Nigeria (to devastating effect for the Niger Delta), her work references the environmental and human impact of fossil fuel extraction – an economic colonialism perpetuated by multinational oil companies and exacerbated by poor governance. Inspired by William Blake's abolitionist print of the same title, her piece ‘Europe Supported by Africa and America’ addresses the legacies of slavery, issues of power and gender, and the climate crisis. Standing on a fertile mound of grass and flowers against a mountainous backdrop, the wreath held by the figures ends in petroleum nozzles, emphasising our shared responsibility to care for the environment.Cloth also plays a major role in Douglas Camp's work, expressing identity and cultural heritage. The figures' outfits denote the material style of each continent: Europe wears a Mondrian-like pattern; Africa a West African Kente cloth; but by dressing America in Paisley – a textile whose patterns are of Persian and Indian origin, but whose name derives from the Scottish town where that fabric was mainly produced – she reminds us that cloth carries within itself interwoven narratives of trade, often complicated by geopolitics.See 'Europe Supported by Africa and America' in Gallery 21, The Dorothy and Michael Hintze Galleries, from 22 June 2022 – 14 May 2023.Find out more about the sculpture: vam.ac.uk/articles/europe-supported-by-africa-and-america-by-sokari-douglas-campThis display coincides with the V&A exhibition Africa Fashion, on until 16 April 2023.
Illustrating a mushroom inspired by Beatrix Potter’s botanical drawings | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-08-09 | In this film botanical artist Katie Scott creates an illustration of fly agaric mushrooms (Amanita muscaria), taking inspiration from Beatrix Potter's mushroom drawings. Watch as she reveals the benefits of working both with paper and pen, and digitally, when trying to capture nature through illustration.This film was produced to accompany the V&A exhibition, Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature, until 8 January 2023.Find out more at: vam.ac.uk/beatrix-potterFind out more about Katie Scott:katie-scott.cominstagram.com/katiekatiescottWith thanks to The Armitt: Museum, Gallery and Libraryarmitt.com
Nisha Kanabar | Industrie Africa | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-08-02 | "By establishing Industrie Africa, I intended to create a channel for authentic connectivity – both regionally and globally – to address the media bias we were experiencing, the gaping lack of global presence." – Nisha Kanabar, 2022With its array of diverse voices, concerns and aesthetics, the African fashion scene is being continually accelerated by a constantly changing digital world. Meet Nisha Kanabar – founder and CEO of fashion platform 'Industrie Africa'. Connecting the continent's most exceptional designer talent with consumers globally, 'Industrie Africa' serves as a creative hub within a buzzing new fashion culture. Based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Kanabar studied at Parsons School of Design in New York before working in fashion publishing at American Vogue and Vogue India. Interested in the power and role of media, she launched the platform in 2018 to advance the narrative of contemporary African fashion – showcasing nuanced diversity and transforming societal and cultural perceptions.Find out more about Nisha Kanabar and Industrie Africa: vam.ac.uk/articles/nisha-kanabar-industrie-africaDiscover more about the Africa Fashion exhibition: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/africa-fashionIndustrie Africa website: industrieafrica.com
Conservation: Transforming an 18th-century portrait and waistcoat | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-07-26 | Follow the conservation of two uniquely connected objects acquired by the museum: a silk waistcoat worn by Bristol merchant Edward Curtis in the 1700s, together with a portrait of him wearing the exact same waistcoat – a rare double acquisition for the museum.Watch as the yellow varnish on the surface of the portrait is gently removed to reveal how the colours of the oil painting match the finely woven silk of the waistcoat. Find out more about our paintings: vam.ac.uk/collections/paintingsFollow more conservation stories: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe2ihXndm5js3qWDF7kSHLJjBbZ5XG9g0
How was it made? Enamelling a brooch | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-07-19 | Enamelling is a highly skilled technique in which coloured glass is fused to a metal base in the heat of a kiln to create glossy, vividly coloured metal objects.This film shows the creation of an enamelled brooch – from the initial sketch to the final piece. Inspired by 18th-century silk designs, the brooch was made by Jane Short MBE, especially for the V&A’s collection. The brooch features two different enamelling techniques: champlevé – where enamel is laid into spaces which have been carved out of the metal base, and basse-taille – where transparent enamels are used over an engraved pattern, allowing the pattern to be seen through the glass.Process for enamelling a brooch:What is enamel?: 00:00Design sketch: 00:23Cutting, shaping and soldering silver sheet metal: 00:27Transferring the design onto the metal: 00:53Champlevé: 01:20Basse-taille: 01:39Making enamel: 02:09Applying enamel: 02:38Firing in a kiln and building up enamel: 02:54Smoothing the enamel with carborundum stone: 03:44Polishing with pumice: 03:58Finished brooch: 04:06Find out more in our enamels collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/enamelsSee a more detailed video on champlevé enamelling: vam.ac.uk/articles/how-was-it-made-champlev%C3%A9-enamelling
Nigerias first fashion designer: Shade Thomas-Fahm | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-07-12 | Originally moving to England in 1953 to train as a nurse, Shade Thomas-Fahm changed path and studied fashion at St Martin's School of Art (now Central Saint Martins) in London. She returned home to Lagos in 1960, the year of Nigeria's independence, and quickly established her own boutique, Maison Shade.Championing Nigerian fabrics and silhouettes, she designed for the cosmopolitan, working woman. Her boutique swiftly became the go-to place for stylish people in Lagos, with diplomats and royalty among her regular customers. A true pioneer, Thomas-Fahm re-imagined traditional Nigerian styles for the modern woman – creating a pre-tied gèlè (headwrap) to make getting dressed easier, and added a zipper to the ìró (wrapper), allowing cosmopolitan women to move around with ease.Find out more about the Africa Fashion exhibition: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/africa-fashionFind out more about Shade Thomas-Fahm: vam.ac.uk/articles/nigerias-first-fashion-designer-shade-thomas-fahm
How was it made? Renaissance Playing Card | Woodcut Printing | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-06-07 | Originating in China in around the 9th century, card games arrived in Europe in the early 14th century. They were initially the preserve of the rich because each card was hand-painted and therefore expensive to buy. However, the advent of woodblock printing led to a system of relatively cheap mass production, in which cards could be printed in sheets from a single wood block. As a result, card playing became popular at all social levels and by both men and women.In this film printmaker and artist Anne Desmet recreates an early-Renaissance sheet of playing cards from our collection, originally made between 1490 – 1500. Using woodcutting and stencilling techniques, which seem labour intensive by today’s standards, this printing system would have revolutionised card playing by opening the market to a much wider audience.Process:Early-Renaissance playing cards: 00:00Materials: 00:25Transferring the design: 00:42Carving the wood: 01:24Preparing the ink and using the pounce: 01:46Pressing the ink: 02:06Applying colour: 02:44Find out more about the object: collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O71945/part-of-an-uncut-sheet-print-savour%C3%A9-gillesDiscover more in our Renaissance collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/renaissance Music credits: Renaissance by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0Artist: http://audionautix.com
Restitution and reimagining of a gold ewer | Place to Place by Adi Toch | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-05-31 | In 1989, collector Arthur Gilbert (1913 – 2001) acquired an object which would be unique in his collection – a 4,250-year-old Anatolian gold ewer. In 2018, the Gilbert Collection embarked on a major provenance research project which revealed that, unbeknownst to Arthur Gilbert, this gold ewer carried a problematic provenance. The dealer who sold him the ewer was secretly involved in the trade of illicit antiquities and the ewer had been illegally excavated and exported, deceiving Arthur Gilbert about its true provenance.In light of this revelation, the Gilbert Trust, together with the Turkish Ministry of Culture, decided that the most appropriate place for the ewer would be the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations in Ankara. In October 2021, the ewer was donated to this museum, where it went on display next to objects of the same period which provide crucial cultural and historical context.Naturally leaving a gap in the V&A's Collection, contemporary metalsmith Adi Toch was comissioned to create an art piece responding to the ewer and its remarkable story, so that its presence is still felt. For her piece, Toch has not only used the same gold alloy of the ewer, but has also employed many of the same techniques used by the Hattian goldsmith, thousands of years ago. Her final piece, titled ‘Place to Place’ thoughtfully prompts us to consider the movements of objects through time, and how they continue to fascinate, inspire and connect us. Watch as Toch examines the materiality of the ewer, including its impeccable craftsmanship, and considers the complex history that it embodies as she creates her piece.Find out more about the gold ewer: vam.ac.uk/articles/gold-ewerDiscover more about the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/gilbert-collection
The tracksuit – a modern phenomenon | Fashion Designer Priya Ahluwalia | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-05-24 | Priya Ahluwalia's fashion brand plays with historic menswear traditions in order to push the boundaries of a male wardrobe. The result – wearable garments that prioritise comfort and encourage men to experiment with colour and bold prints, often inspired by her own Nigerian and Indian heritage.This film takes a closer look at the Joy Track Set from Ahluwalia’s 2021 Liberation collection, now acquired by the museum. A collaboration with graphic designer Dennis McInnes, the tracksuit's distinctive print was inspired by West African textiles, but printed on jersey fabric for a contemporary twist.Find out more: vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/fashioning-masculinities-the-art-of-menswearSee our Fashion Collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion
How was it made? Champlevé enamelling | V&A Victoria and Albert Museum 2022-05-17 | Between the years 1100 – 1250, specialist metalworkers flourished in the areas around Cologne (Germany), Liège (Belgium) and Limoges (France). They supplied monasteries and churches with vessels essential for the rituals of the church, objects such as chalices, crosses, candlesticks, altarpieces and shrines.The technique of enamelling used intense heat to fuse glass onto a prepared metal surface, allowing the metalworker to create brightly coloured images. Medieval enamellers used several different techniques but champlevé enamelling was one of the most common. The word champlevé means literally 'raised fields', referring to the way that beds were dug out of a copper plate to receive the powdered enamel.Watch as a small plaque based on a detail from a reliquary chest made around 1180 in Limoges is recreated. Whilst the basic process remains the same, medieval enamellers used kilns fuelled with charcoal and relied on their judgement when firing the enamel plaques.Process for champlevé enamellingMedieval casket: 00:00Cutting and marking the copper: 00:43Medieval bow drill: 01:16Embedding into wax: 01:28Carving troughs: 01:43Making enamel: 01:56Applying enamel with a goose quill: 02:22Firing process: 02:38Polishing with carborundum and cleaning the surface: 03:14Wrigglework and adding decoration: 03:32Final enamelled plaque: 03:45Find out more about our medieval collection: vam.ac.uk/collections/medievalDiscover more about enamels: vam.ac.uk/collections/enamels
