VISIT William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (map it)
MEET Mark Jones, director of the museum
FIND Some 3,500 of the finest jewels make up one of the world’s preeminent jewelry collections, which largely reflect Europe’s famously extravagant and artistic royal life for the past 800 years.
THE BACK-STORY Opened in 2008 after four years of renovations made possible by the generous $14 million gift from the American entrepreneur William Bollinger and his wife Judith, this exquisite jewelry gallery is a perfect addition to London’s legendary museum, home to 3,000 years worth of precious artifacts of art and design.
Upon entering the gallery designed by architect Eva Jiricna, two features instantly command your attention. One is the completely transparent glass cases that line the walls, displaying breathtaking pieces, such as the jeweled pendants Queen Elizabeth I gave to her courtiers, diamonds worn by Catherine the Great of Russia, the Beauharnais Emeralds that Napoleon gifted to his adopted daughter, and the Helen of Troy necklace designed by Sir Edward Poynter. Peering through the oversized crystal jewelry boxes in the dimly lit gallery, you can’t help but fall in love.
“The power of jewels lies in their beauty and their ability to stir human emotions,” said Museum Director Mark Jones, according to a Victoria & Albert Museum press release.
The other showstopper you can’t miss is the modern and elegant glass spiral staircase that winds up to the mezzanine level, where guests can continue to ogle at all that glitters. Among those stunning pieces, you’ll find a cornucopia of other extraordinary objects from 140 living goldsmiths and jewelers. Contemporary pieces range from Peter Chang’s carved pin in recycled acrylic to Marjorie Schick’s brilliant papier-mâché neckpiece.
Some of the contemporary designers are also featured outside of the jewelry cases in multimedia presentations. The gallery offers unique opportunities to tune into interactive videos and explore in detail how these creations came to life. See London designer Shaun Leane fashioning a diamond ring, artist-jeweler Jane Short enameling a brooch and watchmaker Martin Matthews creating a one-of-a-kind watchcase. Then head to the museum’s gift shop and pick up your own designs, sold exclusively there, to share (and maybe brag a little) back home.
For more information, visit vam.ac.uk.
[Photography courtesy of the Victoria & Albert Museum]
Published on June 10, 2010
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