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Working with the collection
As an artist, I am interested in how history is carried and evolved through everyday materials, trades and crafts (wo)manship. These V&A collection objects informed my research into east London theatres, factories, docks and women’s workwear.
I made this garment with designer Georgia Gough during my 2024 Bow Arts Trust X V&A East fellowship. The loom weights, pulleys and theatre equipment inspired my sculptural commission ‘Heads! Look to the Workers’, now on display at V&A East Museum.
Written by: Laura Wilson, New Work commision artist
Published: April 2026
Sourcebook for Design
- Museum Number
- S.95-1986
- Description
- Joan Littlewood
- Artist/Maker
- Nicholson, Margaret Dorothy
- Location and Date
- Great Britain, 1931
- Materials/Techniques
- Oil colour, Canvas, Oil painting
- Museum Number
- S.323-2019
- Description
- Oh What a Lovely War
- Artist/Maker
- Collins, Una
- Location and Date
- Great Britain, 1963
- Museum Number
- S.240-2019
- Description
- Stage technology
- Museum Number
- MISC.240&A-1986
- Description
- Construction crane
- Artist/Maker
- Lines Bros. Ltd.
- Location and Date
- England, 1960-1969
- Materials/Techniques
- Paint, Steel, Pressing, Painting coating
- Museum Number
- T.468X-1980
- Description
- Loom weight
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location and Date
- Great Britain, 1880-1940
- Materials/Techniques
- Wood
- Museum Number
- T.259-1927
- Description
- Pair of loom pulleys
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location and Date
- Sweden, 1670-1729
- Materials/Techniques
- Wood, Carving
- Museum Number
- 1117-1898
- Description
- Shuttle
- Date
- 18th century
- Museum Number
- T.258-1927
- Description
- Pair of loom pulleys
- Artist/Maker
- Unknown
- Location and Date
- Sweden, 1697
- Materials/Techniques
- Wood, Carving