Black Joy Day: A Survey of African Jewellery Design in the V&A

Name: Black Joy Day: A Survey of African Jewellery Design in the V&A
Start: 2025-07-10 11:15:00 +0100
End: 2025-07-10 18:00:00 +0100
Location: V&A South Kensington

Join us for a special day surveying the V&A’s African jewellery and precious metalwork collections inspired by the Cartier exhibition.

Talk

Thursday, 10 July 2025 at V&A South Kensington
V&A South Kensington
Past event

+44 (0)20 7942 2000

V&A South Kensington

Cromwell Road
London, SW7 2RL
Seminar Room 1
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Tickets cost £35.00

Booking is essential.

Past Event

Black Joy Day: A Survey of African Jewellery Design in the V&A photo

With Helen Molesworth, Lead Curator of the Cartier exhibition, explore the inspiration, themes, design ideas, and production behind this headline exhibition. Discover more about Cartier’s evolutionary legacy of art, design and craftsmanship. Worn by Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, Grace Kelly, and celebrities including Rihanna, the brand has created some of the most recognisable pieces that have gone on to become a part of fashion history. The day includes special entry to the Cartier exhibition.

During the afternoon session you will liaise with V&A curators to examine, handle, and view up close Global African jewellery and precious metalwork, learn about their design, key designers, and materials and techniques including:

Aisha Tahir, Assistant Curator Metalwork and Jewellery and Jane Perry presenting early examples of North, South, East and West African jewellery and a recent African diaspora acquisition.
Alex Watson Jones, Provenance Research Curator presenting Ethiopian jewellery, https://shorturl.at/KY5nw
Angus Patterson, Senior Curator Metalwork 1450 - 1900 presenting the Asante Goldweights, https://shorturl.at/KY5nw

Beverages will be available, but it is advisable that you bring a packed lunch.

Please note, that you will be walking and standing for extended periods of time in the exhibition – a limited number of museum chairs will be available on the day.

joy is an act of resistance….Poet Toi Derricotte.

Black joy is a force. It lifts us through the hardest times and gives us the courage to speak with one voice. In its simplicity, it is radical—because choosing joy is an act of resistance and resilience. Through Black joy, we honour our history, our culture, and our community.
We come together to share, to listen, and to support one another—especially in spaces that are perceived to not always feel welcoming. Black joy is not just a feeling. It's emotional well-being. It regenerates the soul.
Janet Browne, Senior Producer Africa and Diaspora.

See programme schedule for further details.

This event is in collaboration with the Black Gallery Visitor Network (UK).

Programme is subject to change without notice.