Development of the sacred silver and stained glass galleries, 2005

Sacred Silver and Stained Glass Galleries

On 24 November 2005 a new gallery of church silver and stained glass opened in Rooms 83 and 84. Around 300 pieces from the national collection of silver, from spectacular medieval reliquaries to austere contemporary chalices, trace the often turbulent history of western church ceremony and its patronage of the precious metal trades. Flanking the gallery on both sides for its full length are spectacular displays of stained glass dating from the 12th century to the present day, featuring around 250 pieces from the V&A's world-leading collection.

Designer

John Ronayne has run his practice since 1973, without diversifying from the specialisation of museum and exhibition display design. The practice continues to be dedicated to exploring the variety of ways in which museum ideas and material can be presented to the public.

This development was completed as part of FuturePlan

FuturePlan is transforming the V&A by revitalising visitor facilities and redisplaying the collections. Using the best architects and designers, we are bringing the V&A into the 21st century and restoring modern design and innovation to the heart of the museum.