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.

[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?

[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?

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

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

Thanks for sharing.

[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 :)

[clodia-metelli.livejournal.com]

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

[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!

[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.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

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

[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)

[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?

[shirebound]

Oh my, that staircase is amazing!

St. James's Park really looks gorgeous.

[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.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

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

[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.

[deborahw37.livejournal.com]

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

[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!

[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.

[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).

[ukamikanasi.livejournal.com]

Chihuly is from my hometown. :)

[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/)

[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.

[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.