Christmas Tree installation by Alexander McQueen and Tord Boontje

Tord Boontje and Alexander McQueen in front of 'Silent Night', the V&A Christmas Tree 2003.

In 2003 the V&A commissioned fashion designer Alexander McQueen and lighting and furniture designer Tord Boontje to design a Christmas tree for the Museum’s Grand Entrance. This was the first in a series of winter commissions by the V&A.

The tree, named ‘Silent Night’, was made from 100,000 Swarovski crystals on polished stainless steel branches. The design of the tree was inspired by the way snow turns to ice. The six-metre (20ft) high tree took about three weeks to construct, and when finished, rotated slowly on a mirrored plinth over a shattered mirror, bouncing light around the Grand Entrance.

According to Boontje, 'We wanted it to be magical, really pretty but very fragile.