Christmas Tree installation by Boudicca
V&A Christmas Tree 2007, designed by Boudicca
For Christmas 2007, the V&A commissioned Boudicca, the first independent British fashion house to be officially invited to become a guest member of Haute Couture in Paris, to design the Museum's fifth Christmas Tree.
The V&A Christmas tree was a reflection on the myths and symbols of Christmas, partly inspired by 'The Little Match Girl' by Hans Christian Andersen, the haunting tale of a poor match seller who, one Christmas, lights up dreams as she strikes matches to warm herself in the cold.
The tree was five metres high, topped with a mannequin of a female figure, child-like, with wild hair entwined with briar roses, wild roses and bramble. In reference to the little match girl, she held a bundle of spent matches and from her waist a violet ribbon fell to the floor becoming entwined with the foliage, while from her back a pair of wings made from peahen feathers give the impression of an angel.
An atomizer spread the scent of a deep forest and visitors could hear the noise of a forest and wind in the trees. Dramatic lighting highlighted the figure on the tree.
A gift in your will
You may not have thought of including a gift to a museum in your will, but the V&A is a charity and legacies form an important source of funding for our work. It is not just the great collectors and the wealthy who leave legacies to the V&A. Legacies of all sizes, large and small, make a real difference to what we can do and your support can help ensure that future generations enjoy the V&A as much as you have.
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