The collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum are so varied that it would be impossible to see them all in a day. Displayed over four floors, in 11 kilometres of galleries, they include: paintings, sculpture, photography, furniture, fashion, jewellery, ceramics, glass, silverware and architecture. The emphasis is on Europe, but there are also displays of Chinese, Japanese, Indian and Islamic art and design.
Some of the galleries show objects in a particular historical and cultural context. Others focus on materials and techniques. Within this vast array are ‘museums within the museum’. One whole suite of galleries shows medieval and Renaissance art, from 300 to 1500. Another presents British art and design from 1500 to 1900, including rare examples of historical costume. The Jewellery gallery, with over 3500 objects, is one of the finest collections in the world. The Ceramics gallery, with nearly 30,000 pieces, covers the entire history and production of ceramics.
