Ms Chadour-Sampson traces different themes within a broadly chronological display. Throughout history the landmarks of life–birth, love, marriage and death–have been commemorated with jewellery links of london charms. In the last cabinet a dazzling postscript illustrates the allure of rocks with a spiral-shaped display of the 183 gemstone rings that were given to the museum in 1869 by the Reverend Chauncey Hare Townshend, a Victorian poet.
The mezzanine floor contains themuseum’s collection of small gold boxes and watches, as well as its “regional jewellery links of london sale“, silver that often used to be sniffilyreferred to as peasant jewellery. On the same floor computers await on chic, glossy black stands. The idea is that visitors can design their own rings–choosing stones and setting, and e-mailing the result home or to whomever needs a hint links of london.
But the most exciting development for jewellery lovers may be the new online catalogue, which will be ready later this year. All 3,500 pieces will be here, sometimes seen from two or three angles Links of London friendship. The V&A’s jewellery has long been one of the museum’s most popular displays. MsJiricna’s new treasure trove, the 21st-century’s answer to Dresden’s Baroque Green Vault, will only make it more so.