What I Did On My Holidays - the V&A

[curiouswombat]

On the Tuesday that D-d and I were in London, we went to the Churchill War Rooms for about 3 or 4 hours, even though they reckoned it took about 2! Then we had a brief lunch in St James's Park, before walking across Horse-guards Parade to visit The Banqueting House. D-d wanted to visit it in particular because of her love of the Stuarts - Charles 1st was beheaded there. In fact we were both equally fascinated by the actors who were 'rehearsing for a court masque' - D-d had a chance to have quite a chat with one of them - a slightly surreal conversation where he was in character - and she fell into the role of one of the household of Lady Stanley which she portrayed in Labyrinth last month! I was mainly a fascinated onlooker...

However, I did not use my camera inside the war-rooms or the Banqueting House - I somehow never got around to it!

Here, though, is a picture of St James's Park -



That is about 5 or 10 minutes from the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and so on - a really lovely, quiet, space for everyone. On those rocks are some pelicans. We heard a couple arguing about whether they could possibly be real - he was convinced they were ornaments - even though they were flapping their wings...

We ate in Bill's in St Martin's Courtyard, in Covent Garden. As neither of us had come across this chain before it was something new for us; we were really pleased to see naked burgers on the menu - and were both rather sad that it was a bit early for us and we didn't have room for pudding! Early - because we then went to the theatre to see Matilda - which was wonderful.

Wednesday we went to The Wallace Collection - and, again, I left my camera in my bag. Excellent though - totally recommend it. I can confirm that The Laughing Cavalier is neither laughing nor a cavalier - but he has some rather nice clothing. We'd also recommend their courtyard cafe!

Thursday, and D-d was back home, and I went to the V&A. This time I took the camera out of my bag...




I hope bojojoti is not too busy to read this - as I saw this and thought of her -




...the David Chihuly glass installation in the main entrance.

I arrived in good time for an introductory tour led by one of the volunteers. He was a retired architect, and gave us some really interesting insights into some of the materials used in the exhibits themselves, and also into how space was utilised to form new galleries blending old and new architecture. I would guess that an introductory tour with a different guide would have had a different slant - and so it would be worth doing them on almost every visit!

My pictures are a little eclectic...

This is an example of producing 'carved' decoration for so much less - the introduction of glazed terracotta in the fifteenth century;



What I loved most about it was how very real, and individual, those little faces were -




And how about this - it is the frontage of the upper two floors of a house built in 1600, which managed to survive the Great Fire, slowly became covered, and ended up as part of a public house. When it was being demolished in 1890 someone recognised that it might be interesting...



It is mounted at the height it would have been when in situ.

And here is a door - just because I like it - I wonder what would have been behind it?



And a wonderful staircase, now fitted back into a corner as it was originally -




Our guide explained that the Victorians and their equivalents throughout Europe realised that if they took casts of each others great pieces they could display even more history than if they kept everything to themselves. And the V&A have some large galleries devoted to these - except that these 'Cast Courts' are being renovated. However he had special permission to give us a peak - and this doorway(?) at the far side took my eye - so this is taken in poor light with a lot of zoom, and is slightly out of focus. But I like it anyway -



I had a break for lunch (I recommend the wraps - and the scones) - and took this picture to show those who don't know the V&A, what you can do, on a nice day, in the courtyard -




After lunch I went up a level or two - and realised that although that cast court was closed it was still possible to see the middle of the cast of Trajan's Column as you walked along an upper gallery -



Can you imagine the work that must have been involved making a full size copy of Trajan's column?

And isn't this wonderful?



All the faces are, again, so very real - it is really quite modern looking.


It dates from 1500.

Now from a totally different gallery, a Jacobean ladies jacket in its separate pieces -



From the costume galleries - a Shiaparelli evening coat, just because it makes me smile -



I saw an awful lot more fascinating things - but some simply don't photograph well, and sometimes I just forgot.

And finally - this picture is taken back in the entrance hall - but on a higher level -






And that, folks, is the last of the holiday posts...

Comments

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid all I can think of the Chihuly is when I was last there last month I reckoned it's in bad need of dusting - but who on *earth* is going to do that?

Glad you saw some of the Renaissance galleries and the cast courts. People often miss both.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The guide was talking about how difficult it was to dust! Actually it didn't look too bad - so maybe the man with the feather duster and the steady hand had been up there between your visit and mine.

I had a lovely time in the Renaissance galleries - they were one of my 'aims'. I love the jewellery galleries too but, of curse, there is no photography allowed in there even if I'd wanted to.

The other cast court is completely closed off at all levels - but although the Trajan one is closed to the public, it is still possible to look down into it - at the moment. I think they are wonderful places.

[chaotic-binky.livejournal.com]

I love the V&A :D

I haven't been to the Wallace Collection though - so I must next time I visit the parents. My mother would like the Banqueting Hall as well.

St. Jame's Park is like an oasis surrounded by busyness, isn't it?

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The Wallace Collection is lovely - not too enormous, but enough to keep us occupied for a few hours. One of my favourite things in it is The Swing (http://wallacelive.wallacecollection.org/eMuseumPlus?service=direct/1/ResultLightboxView/result.t2.collection_lightbox.$TspTitleLink$1.link&sp=10&sp=Scollection&sp=SfieldValue&sp=0&sp=1&sp=2&sp=Slightbox_3x4&sp=0&sp=Sdetail&sp=0&sp=F&sp=T&sp=1) - which is known as a rather sugar sweet chocolate box picture. Until you actually look at it and realise that the woman's lover, below her, is looking right up her skirts...

I had never really noticed St James's Park before - and we both fell in love with it because it is such a contrast to everything around it!

[chaotic-binky.livejournal.com]

I had noticed that about the picture :D Sometimes pages that feature Marie Antoinette show that painting, yet it is not her at all.

[hobbituk.livejournal.com]

I used to visit St James park to eat my lunch when I worked in Westminster... I especially liked it in the winter when it was pretty much empty. The V&A is huge isn't it?

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I had never been there before - and it is such a lovely spot to sit on the grass and eat lunch, just like everyone else! I can imagine it would be rather lovely in frost though.

The V&A is enormous - I decided which bits I most wanted to see, and probably visited about half of it, if that, during the day.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Oooh, all interesting things. I especially like the group of apostles.

Thanks for sharing.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

My pleasure. I loved those apostles - and was fascinated by how old they were.

[kathyh]

I love St James's Park. It always seems slightly as if you've stepped into another world from all the buildings around.

Lovely photos from the V&A. I've always meant to take my camera there and always forgotten. Many thanks for sharing :)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It always seems slightly as if you've stepped into another world from all the buildings around.

It does, doesn't it? We were both rather taken with it.

As you can tell, I sometimes remembered to take my camera out, whilst in the V&A, and sometimes forgot - or simply decided that some things i liked just wouldn't photograph very well.

[clodia-metelli.livejournal.com]

They were great holiday posts. I really loved this collection. Thanks so much for sharing.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Thank you - sharing is part of the pleasure as it makes me go back and think about what I actually saw, or did.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

We're still visiting in France do I' ve missed your holidsy posts.
:-(
But I had to pop in here and tell you that the V&A is my favourite place in London and that I've taken so many of their tours, someu repeated, and that each has been wonderful and different witn different guides.

I love the costume and jewelry galleries best. Their cafe is amazing both food and decor-wise as well.

I'm so glad you were able to go!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The V&A is fun, especially as you can really not see everything in a day, so it is almost like a different museum each time.

The decor in the cafe is stunning; I love knowing that it was made so beautiful to be the original staff canteen.

[the-winterwitch.livejournal.com]

Awesome pics, thank you for sharing them! I have been to the V&A just once, ages ago, and not under the best conditions, so I didn't really see much, and of that I remember even less. Now I so want to go back and see it again.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The first time I went I went in through the side-door, when I was tired, saw about 10% and gave up - so very like you.

It really is worth starting not long after breakfast and studying a plan to mark off bits you most want to see.

[the-winterwitch.livejournal.com]

I usually do that with any kind of museum I've been to at least once, or know exactly what awaits me. Back then, I had an unexpected extra few hours due to a flight delay, but also a kind of accident right after entering the museum; I was standing in front of an elevator waiting with the back to the room when a wheelchair crashed into my legs. This wouldn't have been so bad if I hadn't had surgery to my left heel some months previous and the wheel hadn't had hit the area in both legs where the bone was mending/ had been . The resulting pain was rather bad. Knowing already walking would help me better than sitting still I went on through he museum, but couldn't really concentrate.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I loved the park and the Nativity. Thanks for sharing.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you liked that Nativity, it really drew my eye because all the people look so real.

[engarian.livejournal.com]

It does seem like every museum of worth must own a Chihuly, fortunately they are all so much fun to look at.

I adore the housing frame and the staircase is right out of Hogwort's, don't you think? The Jacobean brocade was truly lovely and yes, the Shiaparelli coat was wonderfully fun. The doors were great, the column - OMG! All in all - a fantastic bevy of wonderful pics to share. Thank you for doing so...

- Erulisse (one L)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I can't say I understand Chihuly's works in any depth - but they do make me smile. Our guide was discussing the cleaning of it - a feather duster and a steady hand,basically.

Yes - that staircase is very Hogwarts - it hadn't occurred to me until you mentioned it! And sharing the eclectic mixture of things that caught me eye has been a real pleasure.

[desdemonaspace]

Oh MY. The V&A was closed when I was in London in 78, so I am glad to see these. How very lovely.

Oh, isn't that a bojojoti-esque chandelier! Or is it something from The Lost World?

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

If you are ever back in London set aside a day or two, and approach the V&A with a plan of attack!

[shirebound]

Oh my, that staircase is amazing!

St. James's Park really looks gorgeous.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Isn't that staircase fantastic? And how good that someone thought to keep it, and that there is a museum that can display such wonders of architecture.

St James's Park is a wonderful spot - just a large public space open to everyone right in the middle of London.

[myrhiann.livejournal.com]

After looking at your pics, and reading about what you had done in London I wanted to get on the next flight, but unfortunately lack of cash prevents me. However, I have your links, which I shall explore with relish over the next few days. I was interested to find that the paintings in the Wallace Collection that you showed were all old friends of mine. My mother was an artist, and had a collection of art books which I pored through from about the time I was 2 - 3 years old.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The Wallace Collection is a real gem. You can spend quite a long time perusing their website, too - they have some lovely things.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Some wonderful images there. I particularly loved the piece of the old building.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I was really pleased that our architect/guide took time to point that out to us. On my own I might not have visited an architecture gallery!

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

What lovely pictured. All of them. (Although, I want to insert a whale underneath the fountain in picture of St James's Park.)
The adoration of the magi, is fantastic. Amazing to think that it is 15th century.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

(Although, I want to insert a whale underneath the fountain in picture of St James's Park.)

Oh yes - I hadn't thought of it before - but you are so right!

I love that terracotta adoration of the magi - it is amazing how much the faces look as if we might just know the people.

[deborahw37.livejournal.com]

It's too long since I went to the V&A.. your pics convince me that I must rectify this!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I love the all encompassing aspects of it, and also the eclectic nature within some of those collections - a lovely place to spend a good few hours. I like, too, that one of those rather glorious rooms that make up the cafe was originally the staff canteen.

[debris4spike]

I just love The V&A ... although still don't get that glass ornament!

I was actually thinking about my next mini-trip to London and you listed 3 places I have yet to visit ... and had never actually heard of The Wallace Exhibition ... so must make plans!

Glad you had a good trip - and thanks for the tips!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

The Wallace Collection is well worth a visit. D-d has a university friend who works there, which is why she thought of visiting. It is in a lovely quiet square, yet so close to the big shops like Selfridges.

The Cabinet War Rooms are also very well worth a visit. The system they use for the commentary allows for taking your own time and listening again if you want to, and the large Churchill Museum in the middle of it is fascinating.

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

Chihuly shows up just about anywhere these days! I do love the whimsy of his art. There's a exuberant joy in it that never fails to make me smile.

I love the blurry photo of the doorway(?). It looks like it could have been a relic found in an archeological dig of Imladris.

Thanks for sharing your trip. I feel a little as though my own holiday just ended.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Chihuly makes me smile, too.

I love the blurry photo of the doorway(?). It looks like it could have been a relic found in an archaeological dig of Imladris.

And yes - that is exactly what it made me think of too - either that or, perhaps, part of Thranduil's stronghold.

[just-ann-now.livejournal.com]

Relevant to your interests (if not specifically this post): The Most Important Wombats of All Time (http://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/the-most-important-wombats-of-all-time).

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you! What fun!

[ukamikanasi.livejournal.com]

Chihuly is from my hometown. :)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

What a nice claim to fame!

PS - I am sort of getting there with tablet and phone - but you may well get a message in a few days, yet.

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

Great pictures! I've never been to the V&A but clearly I'm going to have to visit one of these days. It looks fascinating!

I like your Chihuly! He's from near here; Tacoma, which is just south of Seattle. I went to see a movie recently in Bellvue (east of Seattle), and the theater surprised me by having a Chihuly in the lobby!

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/tatasiu/4761913411/)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Oh - that one is beautiful! I really like all the colours.

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

It's huge; you don't really get a sense of scale in that picture. It hangs in the lobby of the building with shops and restaurants on 3 or 4 levels. Very striking!

eta for typo!

[estelcontar1.livejournal.com]

I see you and D-d really had a blast. I've spent some very pleasurable hours visiting The Wallace Collection. They have some glorious paintings there.

Have never been to the V&A, and after seeing your pictures I cannot imagine why. Must visit it next time.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

We did - it was an excellent visit. The V&A is a glorious place - although I think it is best to sit with the 'map' and decide what you really want to see as it is quite possible to miss whole levels by mistake!

[bojojoti.livejournal.com]

I'm taking a break from packing. It wouldn't be so exhausting if I didn't have to decide whether it's something to keep or give away, the proper size box was always at hand, and there wasn't the possibility that it's all for naught! I certainly don't want to be living out of boxes for any length of time. Ah, well. We have a roof over our head, so what happens, happens in its good time.

One a year I thoroughly dust our chandeliers and give the crystals a good polishing (they get a lick and a promise kind of dusting in between). I can't imagine having to clean one of those enormous Chihulys!

Love the Shiaparelli. She did that face in a number of colors and fabrics. She designed some beautiful things--and some very whimsical ones. Some of her hats were quite bizarre. I would have enjoyed seeing some of her creations in person.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

packing is such a task - sometimes it is lovely to be reacquainted with something that you had forgotten you owned, sometimes there is the realisation that you really, really, don't need something because it has never been used in the past 20 years, but all too often it is just hard work.

Our guide told us that no modern technique beats the old fashioned feather duster when it comes to cleaning the Chihuly!

The V&A costume collection is very large, and so the actual display changes now and again - if you ever get there you may find a totally different Shiaparelli.