V&A London

Bejewelled Treasures: The Al Thani Collection

On Thursday I went to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to see the Bejewelled Treasures: The Al Thani Collection exhibition for research and inspiration into my Final Major Project. My Final Major Project is a reportage project based on my own trip to India but taking from many other multiple cultural and historical Indian references. Although I am not creating jewelry for this project, I still thought the exhibitions content would really help to show an insight into the beauty and history of the Indian jewels and their importance and their effect on society.  I was really pleased when I went round the exhibition because there were many supporting illustrations and Indian miniatures which shed light on how the pieces were worn and the general feel of India at this time. There were also loads of photographs evidencing the jewels and the incredible outfits and people they adorned. This reminded me of a book I have of India from the last century and I started thinking about how I could incorporate those photographs into my own work without going against the copyright. The jewels themselves were incredible. The spinel’s were beautiful; they looked more like a red liquid magically held together than a hard stone. The parts which most amazed me though were the intricate detailing and care put into the craft of the entire piece. There was a video giving an inside look into the craftsmanship behind the creation of this pieces. The concentration and care was incredible and the tools used were similar to the size of a pin; the delicacy needed to create such beautiful and perfect pieces is reflected in the value of the piece.