| Victoria And Albert And Me! Hate Mondays? | | | | time was it already? No time to waste, drink |
| Try a Monday at the V&A. Mondays will never | | | | up and get going!The Arts and Crafts |
| be the same again.I got the opportunity to | | | | Exhibition was beautifully staged showing |
| spend a couple of days in London with a | | | | examples from around the world of furniture, |
| friend the other week so I jumped at the | | | | metalwork, fabric, glass, and so much more |
| chance and, fingers crossed, I might get to | | | | from the period around the 1900's. |
| visit the Arts and Crafts Exhibition at the | | | | Fascinating to see pieces from America and |
| Victoria and Albert Museum.I have a small | | | | Japan alongside European offerings. My |
| antiques shop on the edge of the Lake | | | | favourite was the simple oak furniture by |
| District so can feel a bit cut off from the | | | | Voysey, you must choose your own personal |
| metropolis and all the vast wealth of museums | | | | objects - what a wonderful dilemma! Not too |
| in the capital. Magazine articles and | | | | crowded on a Monday so I could get near |
| internet access are OK up to a point, but | | | | enough to the cabinets for a good view of the |
| nothing beats actually standing in front of a | | | | Art Nouveau jewellery - exquisite.My appetite |
| magnificent painting or being allowed to | | | | was wetted for more gold and diamonds so |
| touch artifacts that are tens of thousands of | | | | onward and up the marble staircase to the |
| years old.Monday morning, luckily the weather | | | | splendour of the necklaces, tiaras and |
| was dry, so wearing my most comfortable pair | | | | costumes on display from the period of grand |
| of shoes - an absolute must for tramping | | | | stately living.Time's flying by and I keep |
| around London - down to the nearest tube | | | | getting distracted by passing things that are |
| station and the start of the adventure! | | | | just so exciting that I must stop and look. |
| Funny how if you did it every day of the week | | | | The skilled craftsmanship in the making of |
| the novelty would wear off, but being an | | | | each individual item is what fascinates and |
| 'underground novice', I' m still intrigued by | | | | thrills me. The hands of a Georgian clock, |
| the sounds, the smells and especially the | | | | the intricate fretwork of a metal grille, the |
| people. Where are they all going and why | | | | workmanship of the everyday key - |
| don't they ever smile, let alone speak! | | | | breathtaking!Then, by chance, I wonder into a |
| Never mind, when in Rome etc, etc, I can | | | | room full of musical instruments. Names I've |
| always get a friendly smile from the concert | | | | never heard of and can't remember, but again |
| hall quality buskers when I drop them a few | | | | what does it matter. What really matters is |
| coins.Mustn't get too involved with 'people | | | | that at a date in the past, somebody sat for |
| watching' that I forget to watch out for | | | | weeks, maybe months or even years to fashion |
| South Kensington, jump off the tube and no | | | | a lute, a spinet, a harpsichord and it's |
| need to even leave the underground as there's | | | | there for me to marvel at. Consider the |
| a side entrance to the V & A.Wow!!! The | | | | attention to the detail given to the back of |
| building is breathtaking, the scale is | | | | a guitar that when played wont even be |
| awesome. How many people have visited since | | | | seen!Words are inadequate to describe the |
| it was opened and just stood and been | | | | treasures on display at the V & A. |
| transported by its sheer beauty? It takes a | | | | Sufficient to say that every staircase, every |
| little time to drag your eyes away from the | | | | ceiling and column of the building itself |
| decoration of the structure let alone think | | | | deserves appreciation. The contents of each |
| about the items on display.Where to start, so | | | | cabinet are breathtaking and beautifully |
| many wonderful displays so take so deep | | | | displayed with informative notes.I could |
| breath, maybe even sit over a cup of coffee | | | | carry on as I did on that Monday when I |
| and make a plan. Certain rooms I didn't want | | | | returned with aching feet and a bursting |
| to miss and top of the list came the Arts and | | | | soul, but take a day off and find time to |
| Crafts Exhibition closely followed by | | | | visit a museum. They're all around the |
| jewellery, then glassware and ceramics. | | | | country and deserve our support.Joy Pearson |
| Don't forget that one of my customers had | | | | runs an antique shop on the beautiful |
| mentioned the full size copy of 'David' and | | | | Yorkshire Dales/Lake District border. Lots of |
| the metal ware, the miniatures and the | | | | antiques, collectables and witty friendly |
| Victorian pictures must not be missed. What | | | | banter. |