A group of 18th-century embroidered sofa and chair covers and a related conversation piece by Joseph Highmore.
The small group portrait by Joseph Highmore includes Jane Vigor, who holds up an example of her embroidery. The gro…
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The Devonshire hunting tapestries
These four 15th-century tapestries with hunting scenes came to the V&A from the estate of The Dukes of Devonshire. …
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Goods & services provided by the upholsterer
Upholsterers could be involved in almost all aspects of the design of interiors, and featured in this page is an il…
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Furnishing textiles in the Archive of Art & Design
In the 20th century Britain produced distinctive and popular textile designs. The collections of the Archive of Art…
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Conservation of a crewelwork bed curtain
The design of the curtain reflects the influences of a flourishing trade with India and is worked in the trad…
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Upholstery conservation
Many people think of upholstery conservation in terms of what they can readily see - the covering fabrics and the t…
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Printmaking in the 21st century
What is a print? The term now encompasses stencilled guerrilla graphics, museum-sponsored billboards, appropriated or found material, a cake iced with a laser-jet printed image, printed MDF floors, wallpapers and soft furnishings. In recent years printmaking has co-opted painting and sculpture, dress and domestic furnishings, commerce and cyberspace. Dynamic and democratic, the world of printmaking now includes the billboard and the badge, the masterpiece and the multiple, the priceless and the give-away.
Conservation of Houghton Hall textiles and furniture
Houghton Hall, Norfolk, was built and furnished in 1722-1735 for Sir Robert Walpole, the first British Prime Minister, by the innovative and leading designer William Kent.
James 'Athenian' Stuart (1713–1788)
James 'Athenian' Stuart is a compelling figure in the history of British design. Widely recognised for his central role in pioneering Neo-Classicism, Stuart developed his influential career across various fields: interior decoration, sculpture, furnishing, metalwork and architecture.
Interview with Professor Bernard Nevill
Professor Bernard Nevill studied and taught at St Martin's College of Art and the Royal College of Art in London. He achieved great success designing furnishing fabrics, and designs for the theatre.
Metalwork in the Archive of Art & Design
The Archive of Art and Design's holdings for metalwork offer an insight into its use in an everyday setting. There are presentation drawings of hand-forged wrought iron gates and railings produced by Hyders Ltd along with their albums of designs and costings for furnishings such as candlesticks, firescreens, mirrors and cocktail cabinets. There is also a selection of photographs of delicately patterned personal items such as a hairbrush, a comb and a glove-stretcher by jewellery and metalwork designer William Snelling Hadaway.
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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Macrahanish furnishing fabric (Custom print)
Macrahanish furnishing fabric, by Robert Stewart
Buy nowEvent - Tudors & Stuarts: British Art & Design 1500-1700
Thu 27 September 2012 10:30
SHORT COURSE: Discover the fascinating history of art, architecture and decorative arts during one of the most tumultuous and pioneering periods in British history.
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