Secrets of the Museum

S2 E1 Jacob Jordaens: Renaissance Watercolours

本集简介

Inside every museum is a hidden world, and now cameras have been allowed back behind the scenes at the world-famous Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Although many of us have had to stay away over the last year, the work has continued in the V&A's workshops and storerooms to conserve some of the two million wonders in the museum's collection.

In this episode, the museum sonservators work to preserve and maintain four unique objects. Theatre and Performance keeper Geoff and conservator Jo work to repair an eye-popping red lurex suit that belongs to Jim Lea, the bass player in one of biggest glam rock bands of the 1970s, Slade. Meanwhile, curator Peta and conservator Victoria are finally able to bring a 500-year-old wax modelled by Michelangelo out of cold storage, but it isn't long before they find something on one of the buttocks that takes them both by surprise.

Curator Elania, while working on a display showing the prominence of watercolour painting during the Renaissance, disovers a series of unusual white dots on a piece by a Flemish master that hasn't been shown for over a century – Christ, St Paul and the Theological Virtues, by Jacob Jordaens. And finally, curator Josephine and keeper Anna aim to prepare a kimono, designed by the Cameroon-born designer Serge Mouangue, in order to add it to a touring exhibition celebrating the Japanese national dress.

下一集

2021/07/20 S2 E2

Epic Iran

As the V&A's Museum of Childhood in east London prepares to undergo a major refurbishment, its collection of over 30,000 toys and games must be packed away - including the museum's oldest teddy bear, the 111-year-old Little Tommy Tittlemouse. Curator Will must ensure its good condition before it can be put into storage.

With the V&A preparing for a new exhibition on the art of Iran, curator Tim hopes to display some of the longest artworks ever unveiled at the museum: three ten-metre-long replicas of the painted interiors of mosque domes from central Iran, dating from the 1850s and created by local Iranian craftsmen. After more than a century in storage, these vast objects need extensive conservation, but conservator Nicola has only 16 weeks before the they are installed.

In the Jewellery Gallery, curator Clare has two new pieces she is hoping to add to the collection. The first is known as the Vulcan ring, made by contemporary British designer Emefa Cole as part of a series inspired by the power and majesty of volcanoes, while the second is the Peony Brooch by Taiwanese designer Cindy Chao, fashioned from 105 large oval rubies held in purple titanium.

In the British Galleries, curator Simon has found the perfect object for the Laughing Matters display, which celebrates the history of Britain through comedy: the costume worn by Andrew Sachs in Fawlty Towers. The outfit is being donated to the museum by Sachs's daughter Kate, who recalls memories of visiting her father on set and reflects on how her father's own immigrant background escaping from Nazi Germany in 1938 would have informed his portrayal of Barcelonian waiter Manuel.

当前季

2021-07-20

哇，窗口太小啦

Secrets of the Museum