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A History of Jewellery: Bedazzled
Online course
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Sold out
This course reveals the history of jewellery from the Middle Ages till today. It explores how fashions in dress, historical events, changing society and international trade were inspirational for designs. Jewels are more than adornment and symbols of status, they are personal to the wearer, mark occasions in life and express devotion, grief, love and hope.
Note: This course is sold out, but it will be available in an on-demand format from 10 April until 3 July 2024. Please search for A History of Jewellery: Bedazzled (On-Demand) or email courses@vam.ac.uk for more information.
Learn from our world-class experts wherever you are, whenever suits you: watch lectures live or view the recording later in your own time. You can experience the full breadth and depth of the V&A's collections with 12 hours of study over 6 weeks. Learn at your own pace: lecture recordings and study materials, lecture notes, copies of the presentations, and additional study materials are available in our secure Microsoft Teams environment for 6 weeks after the course ends, so you'll never miss a thing. And finally, join the conversation: share your perspective with your fellow students, and support each other in your further enquiries outside of class time.
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Course Leader
Beatriz Chadour-Sampson
Beatriz Chadour-Sampson is an international jewellery historian, author and lecturer. She was consultant curator to the redesigning of the William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery and guest curator of the ‘Pearls’ exhibition at the V&A. Today she is the curator of the Alice and Louis Koch Collection, now in the Swiss National Museum.
Following this course has been everything I had hoped for and more: stimulating lectures on subjects I am really interested in and the opportunity to learn from experts in their respective fields. Previous V&A Academy Online Course Attendee
Course overview
This jewellery history course gives insight into the comprehensive collection of 3,500 jewels in the V&A’s William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery and other major international museums. It will explore how fashions in dress determined what jewellery was worn and how international styles and art movements were inspirational for the designs. Changes in economy and society were significant in the choice of jewels worn. Jewellery is personal and accompanies the wearer through life and marks special occasions. Other than being adornment and symbols of status, jewels express devotion, grief, love and hope.
V&A Academy Online. A learning environment you can trust.
V&A Academy Online courses are built using the latest Microsoft software. Tune in to expert lectures live, or catch up later on demand. Download handouts and presentations. Join the discussion in a secure, closed class environment, wherever you are.
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Online course: A History of Jewellery: Bedazzled
22 February 2024 - 28 March 2024
£120.00
Sold out
Need help enrolling? Talk to the admissions team:
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Open 10.00 - 13.00, Monday to Sunday (closed 24-26 December)
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Header image: © Victoria and Albert Museum, London