3-028-438 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Our New Treasure-House: The Victoria and Albert Museum; in the ceramic section, showing the room devoted to French, Dutch, English and German earthenware, 1909. 'To quote from the introduction to the guide to the Victoria and Albert Museum, "The primary object of the founders of the Museum was to provide models for, and otherwise to aid the improvement of such manufactures and crafts as are associated with decorative design; in other words, to assist craftsmen and others to study the methods, processes, and taste which have governed the arts and crafts of past ages. The question of classification, which might best serve this purpose, has always been a difficult one; but the balance of expert opinion has generally been in favour of grouping by industries, on the grounds that students would thus obtain greater facilities for their researches. With this view, the collection has been arranged under the following general Departments: Wood-work, Furniture, and Leather: Metal-work; Textiles; Architecture and Sculpture: Engraving, Illustration, and Design: Library and Book-production: Paintings: Ceramics, Glass, and Enamels".' From "Illustrated London News", 1909.