Research at the V&A
The V&A Research Institute leads a portfolio of research projects rooted in the museum’s collections and practices. Many research projects involve interdisciplinary collaborations while others are carried out by individual researchers.
Some projects explore what we can learn from our collections to address current and future challenges. Researcher Pandora Syperek selected these objects from the V&A’s Animal Products collection to explore how humans have exploited the natural world to create art and design objects.
Written by: Jo Norman, Director of the V&A Research Institute, National Art Library and Archives
Published: May 2025
Description: Contents page for ‘The commercial products of the animal kingdom employed in the arts and manufactures’ catalogue
Location and date: London. 1880
Working Museum
- Museum Number
- AP.20C-1874
- Title/Description
- Tiara
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location
- Great Britain
- Date
- 1870-1874
- Materials/Techniques
- Fish scale, Wire
- Museum Number
- T.92&A-1984
- Title/Description
- Corset
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location
- England
- Date
- 1895-1900
- Museum Number
- AP.653
- Title/Description
- Walking stick
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location
- England
- Date
- 1800-1830
- Materials/Techniques
- Animal part - physeter microcephalus, Bone, Carving
- Museum Number
- E.301-1901
- Title/Description
- Graphic Illustrations of Animals.
- Artist/Maker
- Thomas Varty
- Location
- London
- Date
- mid 19th century
- Materials/Techniques
- Paper, Printing ink, Lithography