Page 219 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

SOUTH KENSINGT ON AND KNIGHT SBRIDGE  217

Detail of the Ardabil Carpet (c.1539–40) in the Jameel Gallery of Islamic Art
in rooms 113 to 114e, is the
Europe Textiles and Fashion dazzling Hereford Screen
Ten galleries, occupying an The popular Fashion Gallery designed by Sir George Gilbert
entire wing of the museum, displays items from the largest Scott in 1862, and displayed at
house some of the world’s and most comprehensive the International Exhibition
greatest treasures of medieval collection of dress in the world. of that year. The screen
and Renaissance Europe. Around 100 exhibits, spanning became the V&A’s largest
Among the many remarkable over three centuries, are conservation project.
exhibits are the notebooks of arranged chronologically. The Gilbert Collection of
Leonardo da Vinci; They include a gold, silver, micromosaics
sculptures by Italian magnificent mantua and gold boxes, formerly
masters such as from the 1760s; an housed at Somerset House,
Donatello and 1850s wedding dress re-opened here in 2009.
Giambologna, some with veil and shoes; a
in a Renaissance Schiaparelli evening Glass and Ceramics
courtyard garden coat embroidered with
setting; the fine enamel a design by Jean The museum has the most
Becket Casket (c.1180); Cocteau; and a punk comprehensive collection of
and the reconstructed outfit designed by glass and ceramics in the world.
Santa Chiara Chapel, Vivienne Westwood. Examples of glass covering 2,000
the only one of its kind Textiles are also found years are largely housed in room
outside Italy. throughout the museum’s 131, which has a stunning glass
The Europe collections; the balustrade on the staircase and
collection continues in Ruby glass flagon Japanese galleries in mezzanine by artist Danny Lane.
the Level 0 galleries of (c.1858–9) particular have some Displays of international contem-
the opposite wing, exquisite kimonos porary glass are on display in
which cover the period 1600 and other traditional textiles. this room and in room 129.
to 1800, and include several The ceramics collection
re-created period rooms. Metalwork has an introductory gallery
Room 48a on the ground floor presenting the history and
is dedicated to the famous This group of galleries is located development of ceramics
Raphael cartoons – huge on level 3. In the Silver Galleries, across the world. All of the
designs for tapestries planned 3,500 pieces from 1400 to the major British pottery factories
for the Sistine Chapel, dating present day are displayed in are represented.
from 1515. The cartoons were the beautifully refurbished
acquired by Charles I. Victorian rooms 65 to 69.
Another of the most famous Arms and armour,
sights at the V&A are the extra- European metalwork
ordinary cast courts, which from the 1500s to the
have been part of the museum present, and Islamic
since its founding. They house brass and bronze can be
large plaster casts of major found in rooms 81, 82
European sculptures, such as and 87 to 89.
Rome’s Trajan’s Column (in two The Sacred Silver and
pieces) and a 5 m (16 ft) tall Stained Glass galleries in
reproduction of Michaelangelo’s rooms 83 and 84 display
David, created so that visitors to devotional treasures. The
the museum could see these highlight of the Ironwork Stained-glass roundel illustrating Susanna
works without travelling. galleries, which are located Accused by the Elders (c.1520)

216-217_EW_London.indd 217 15/05/2017 15:37