Unboxing some seriously sparkly Cartier jewels
Join Helen Molesworth, senior curator of Jewellery at the V&A as she unboxes some incredible gems from the collection, revealing a story of 20th century design evolution and global influence…
A brief history of powerful gemstone amulets
Bewitching and beautiful, spiritual and sparkling – colourful stones, crystals and gems have been used throughout human history for devotion and decoration. For centuries, these natural curiosities have been gathered…
The surreal fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli (1890 – 1973) pushed boundaries as a fashion designer, transforming functional items of clothing into unique style statements. Her evening suits embody the height of 1930s haute couture,…
Unboxing Mysterious Eye Miniatures | Secret Tokens of Forbidden Love 👁️
From clandestine romance and the Prince of Wales to pearls, tears, precious stones and the incredible skill of miniature painters, discover the history behind these beautiful, uncanny objects — and…
King William III’s underwear | Fashion unpicked | V&A
Serving as underwear in the 1700s, shirts were usually worn out and then recycled to make paper, but this one has survived for centuries. It is made of the finest…
100 Years of Fashionable Womenswear: 1830s – 1930s | V&A
Discover changing silhouettes and key fashion developments across 100 years of British and French womenswear: from a Victorian wedding dress inspired by Indian textile motifs, to an Edwardian lace day…
Marvel at dramatic silhouettes and intricate embroidery of Saudi Arabian dresses from the 1940s and 1950s.
Join V&A curator Fuchsia Hart as she unboxes two spectacularly embroidered traditional Najdi thobes (dresses) from the Najd region of Saudi Arabia. Traditionally worn to celebrations such as weddings, Eid…
Inside the Shed Where Tiny Dolls House Furniture Is Crafted | How Was It Made?
In this cosy, slow-paced How Was It Made documentary, we follow Terry as he carefully crafts miniature dolls house furniture by hand. Here he shows us how he's replicated an…
Smaller Than a Fingernail: Unboxing the World’s Tiniest Books
Have you ever seen a book smaller than a fingernail? In this unboxing, we explore some of the tiniest books ever created — from fairy-sized poetry, religious texts and miniature…
A brief history of (charming and mean) Valentine’s cards | V&A
From floral bouquets and scented hearts, to casual insults and a pig in human clothes – marvel at the sweet (and sometimes quite mean!) Valentine's cards in the V&A's collection.…