White gold
After centuries of imitating imported Asian porcelains in other materials, J.F. Böttger, an alchemist working at the Dresden court of Augustus the Strong, became the first …
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Fashions for porcelain in Europe
In the 18th century, European aristocrats and monarchs often founded porcelain factories as a sign of prestige. Their factories created luxury dining wares, porcelain figur…
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Biscuit Group 'La Nature', by Louis-Simon Boizot, 1794
This group was arguably one of Sèvres' most important and accomplished productions of the period.
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King Vulture by Meissen, about 1731
The Meissen Vulture was made for Augustus the Strong (1694/7-1733), Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, one of the wealthiest monarchs and most important patrons of the a…
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Japanese ceramic styles
From 1659, Japan's fledgling blue and white export industry flourished. However, it was Japan's innovative, colourful wares that provoked a European frenzy in the 1680s.
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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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French Porcelain of the Eighteenth Century
Throughout the eighteenth century, France was a place of intense scientific enquiry and innovative research and one of the most exciting discoveries o…
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