Why is this in the V&A?

The V&A acquires objects to enrich our understanding of the material world. We rely on various strategies to ensure the collection represents different histories and cultures of design.

Collection departments have a base budget to purchase objects every year. On top of this, schemes like bequests, commissions, public call-outs, long-term loans and donations help extend our ability to collect. Often, you can find out about how an object came to the collection by looking at its credit line (printed in our guides). 

Written by: Brendan Cormier, Chief Curator at V&A East
Published: May 2025

Collecting Stories

Museum Number
LOAN:GILBERT.685:1-2008
Title/Description
Kettle
Artist/Maker
Lamerie, Paul de
Location
London
Date
1736-1737
Materials/Techniques
Silver, Raising, Casting, Engraving (incising), Chasing
Object information
Museum Number
T.67-2018
Title/Description
Shoes
Artist/Maker
Mary Quant
Location
United Kingdom
Date
c.1973
Materials/Techniques
Leather
Object information
Museum Number
E.3581-2004
Title/Description
Mother Approaching Sixty
Artist/Maker
Bowling, Frank
Location
USA
Date
2003
Materials/Techniques
Colour printing ink, Photo-etching
Object information
Museum Number
M.1-2013
Title/Description
Union Centrepiece
Artist/Maker
Miriam Hanid
Location
Lowestoft
Date
2013
Materials/Techniques
Silver, Silver, Embossing, Cutting
Object information
Museum Number
7915(IS)
Title/Description
Samples of Silk fabrics Manufactured at Lahore Shewing the patterns &c. peculiar to …
Location
Lahore
Date
c.1862
Materials/Techniques
Silk (textile), Paper, Leather, Book-binding
Object information