The origins of the V&A go back to 1837 and it has grown to be one of the world's greatest museums. Its collections include ancient textiles, modern chairs, sculpture by Michelangelo, paintings by Constable, fabulous Indian jewellery and miniatures, and over thirty-four thousand ceramics. The chronological and cultural ranges of the V&A's collections and displays offer many different perspectives. The objects can be seen as examples of craftsmanship and design, as witnesses to history and culture, or simply as superb works of art - things of beauty in and for themselves. This book, with a preface by the Director, Mark Jones, is an introduction to the riches of the V&A. It reveals the fascinating and often surprising ways that the collections have been assembled, and examines the unique character of the V&A.
 Trade In this Item for up to £3.50
Trade in The Victoria and Albert Museum for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £3.50, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Learn more
|
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
About the Author
Lucy Trench is Interpretation Editor at the V&A. She is the author of Buildings and Monuments in the Royal Parks (1997) and editor of Materials and Techniques in the Decorative Arts (2000).
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By crocodile
Format:Hardcover
It is about the V&A and is actually a great read; beautifully designed and illustrated. Not exactly a guide dragging you through every gallery, but more a sort of taster or introduction to the place and its amazing contents . Lots of pictures, and short lively, well written pieces about carefully selected objects that each have a good story to them - or are weird or wonderful or funny. There is a brilliant introduction by the director of the museum, and the whole book is smart , authoritative and entertaining.
A must for anyone who loves art and design and is impatient with academic knowledge for knowledge's sake- but wants insight and illumination into what these things are really all about.
A must for anyone who loves art and design and is impatient with academic knowledge for knowledge's sake- but wants insight and illumination into what these things are really all about.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By bernie
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
i purchased tis book as a present for a friend who was visiting the museum the following month - she loved the book and it gave her a good insight about the museum
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.0 out of 5 stars
1 review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brief overview of the V&A
25 Sep 2012
By LD
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
The book is a brief look at the variety of decorative art categories in the V&A. Each page has 1-4 items in that category but this is more of a souvenir book for a visitor to take home. Although attempting to combine historical objects with 20th century items, you really miss out on some fabulous "wow" objects. While there is a commentary on the Great Exhibition (whose items were transferred to the V&A) little is written about the objects in this book. The book is worth 3.5 stars.
I spent 2 days in the V&A and still never got to everything. You can easily spend a couple of hours in a single room. A half day can make you reach a point you just can't absorb any more even though you are in ecstasy over the variety and quality that you are experiencing.
I have waited years for an all encompassing book on the V&A to be published. I own a couple that have partially satisfied me and cover some of the collection: Design & the Decorative Arts: Britain 1500-1900 and A Grand Design. If you are willing to look at a book that covers European decorative art in general, I unhesitatingly recommend Judith Miller's Decorative Arts. Separated into time periods you will see volumes of color photos of all categories except jewelry and stained glass. This is a coffee table book like you've never experienced.
I spent 2 days in the V&A and still never got to everything. You can easily spend a couple of hours in a single room. A half day can make you reach a point you just can't absorb any more even though you are in ecstasy over the variety and quality that you are experiencing.
I have waited years for an all encompassing book on the V&A to be published. I own a couple that have partially satisfied me and cover some of the collection: Design & the Decorative Arts: Britain 1500-1900 and A Grand Design. If you are willing to look at a book that covers European decorative art in general, I unhesitatingly recommend Judith Miller's Decorative Arts. Separated into time periods you will see volumes of color photos of all categories except jewelry and stained glass. This is a coffee table book like you've never experienced.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see the review
4.0 out of 5 stars
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
