A-Z of glass
Do you know your aventurine from your zwischengoldglas? Sharpen up your glass knowledge with our A-Z
Glass
Plan a visitThe V&A's Glass collection is one of the largest and the most comprehensive in the world, showcasing the development of design and technology in glass-making over 3,500 years.
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Our collection is particularly rich in vessel and art glass, with examples from the Italian Renaissance, the Middle-East, 17th – 20th century Britain and Europe, and contemporary art glass from around the world. We also hold an important collection of stained glass from the medieval period onwards.
Collection Highlights
Head of Narcissus (detail), Erwin Eisch, 1975, Germany. Museum no. C.222:1 to 8-2014. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
'Luck of Edenhall', beaker, about 1350, Egypt or Syria. Museum no. C.1 to B-1959. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Blue glass form, René Roubicek, 1959, Czechoslovakia. Museum no. C.21-1998. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Jellyfish installation, made by Steffen Dam, Handrup (Ebeltoft), Denmark, 2010. Museum no. C.92-2011. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Antarctic Expedition, James Maskrey, 2013, England. Museum no. 106-2013. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
'Deep Blue and Bronze Gold Persian Set', Dale Chihuly, 1999, United States. Museum no. C.108-2001. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Features
Narcissus by Erwin Eisch
Erwin Eisch’s desire to 'take the straight and bend it' revolutionised European studio glass
Antarctic Expedition by James Maskrey
James Maskrey's beautiful contemporary glassworks inspired by the ill-fated polar explorations of Captain Scott
Art Deco: René Jules Lalique
René Jules Lalique was an exceptional artist, astute industrialist, and a driving force of the Art Deco style
The Luck of Edenhall
Its unique, superstition-wrapped history makes this antique drinking glass one of the Museum's most intriguing objects
Stained glass: the Gothic Revival and beyond
How the Victorians revived the art of stained glass – laying the foundations for a modern take on decorated windows
How was it made? 3D scanning and printing
See how 3D scanning and printing techniques are used to reproduce an object from our collection
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Background image: Background image: Jellyfish installation, made by Steffen Dam, Handrup (Ebeltoft), Denmark, 2010. Museum no. C.92-2011. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London