The 20th century was a time of great social and artistic upheaval. Art, design, theatre and performance were all profoundly affected by the catastrophic impact of the two world wars, the fear and suspicion of the Cold War, and the rapidly changing position of women in society.
20th-Century Dance
From the early 20th century dancers, especially in Germany and America, experimented with freer, more personal ways of moving. They rejected the rigidity of classical balle…
Read article
20th-Century Circus
History of circus in Britain in the 20th century, early 20th-century spectacle and international circus, the impact of television on circus and the rise of alternative circ…
Read article
Penguin Donkey Bookcase by Egon Riss and Isokon, 1939
This bookcase was was made by Isokon, probably the most forward-thinking British furniture manufacturer of the 1930s. In the late 30s this little bookcase was set to be a b…
Read article
Kitchen Clock, by Max Bill, 1956
This kitchen clock, which incorporates a mechanical timer, was designed by Max Bill whilst director of the Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG Ulm), the experimental design scho…
Read articleA 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.
MoreShop online
Traditional Jewellery: In Nineteenth-Century Europe (Hardback)

Although less well-known today, European jewellery - jewellery worn with traditional or national costume - was highly fashionable in nineteenth-centur…
Buy nowEvent - Susan Rumfitt: Wearing 20th Century Jewellery
Mon 24 June 2013 18:30

Jewellery has been an essential fashion accessory throughout the twentieth century and has close links with designers including Chanel, Dior and Versace.
Book online















