Thumbnail of Video: A musical automaton clock

Video: A musical automaton clock

Watch and listen as the musical automaton clock from the British Galleries goes through its performance.

Thumbnail of Plastic, Pop and Mass-produced Design
in the V&A's Collections

Plastic, Pop and Mass-produced Design in the V&A's Collections

Objects made of plastic are everywhere in the Museum. Vessels, lighting, boxes and accessories are spread between the Ceramics and Glass, Metalwork, Furniture and Woodwork, and Textile and Dress Collections.

Thumbnail of Two Pooped-out Pop Chairs: What is the Future for our Plastic Collections?

Two Pooped-out Pop Chairs: What is the Future for our Plastic Collections?

One of the greatest challenges facing the conservator today is how to deal with modern materials. Modern materials have become increasingly important in museum collections and the Victoria and Albert Museum is no exception.

Thumbnail of History of Black dance

History of Black dance

The term Black dance describes a range of styles whose origins include: the tribal dances of Africa, the slave dances of the West Indies and the American Deep South, the Harlem social dances of the 1920s and the jazz dance of Broadway musicals. Black dance has often been bound up with social and rights issues. The history of black dance in Britain is relatively young, and the first black British dance company, Ballet Nègres, was formed in 1946.

Thumbnail of Musical instruments reading list

Musical instruments reading list

A selection of recommended musical instrument catalogues and further reading.

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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My Generation: The Glory Years of British Rock

My Generation: The Glory Years of British Rock

The story of the people who provided the soundtrack to those momentous times with outstanding images of the biggest names in rock history

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Event - Theatre & Performance Galleries Tour

Fri 19 February 2010–Mon 31 December 2012

TOUR: Take a guided tour of the V&A's exciting theatre and performance collections, including rock & pop posters, theatre and ballet costumes, puppets, stage sets and more! See new costumes from the Lion King now on display.

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