17 December - Travel Day

Today we’re leaving for our cat sit, so I was up early to pack.  Check out is 10:30am but we weren’t due to leave for Ashtead until about 2:00pm, so we stashed our bags in the hotel storage closet and headed out to kill some time.  For Bruce that meant – you guessed it – a pub crawl. For me, a visit to the V&A museum (nearly as predictable.) Each year the V&A commissions a designer to create a Christmas tree for the entrance. This year, London-based designers Isobel and Helen created a tree called “Power Plant”, celebrating the season through light and movement. Inspired by the sky at night, the installation is formed of wind-powered turbines which rotate within their own orbit to collectively power the lights in the structure.

I started my visit in the Islamic Art Gallery.

Turkish table, about 1560:

Jade tankard with rubies from around 1550-1600; handle added around 1800:

Portrait of Fath al Shah, around 1800:

Then it was on to South Asia.

Made of fine Muslin, the jama was worn by men at many Indian courts from 1500-1800. this one is decorated with silver-gilt trimmings and pieces of jewel beetle wings:

White jade thumb ring of Shah Jahan, dated 1042:

The goddess Durga from the Hoysada period, about 1240-60:

Wish-fulfilling cow, about 1900:

And China

Dragon robe for an emporer, Qing dynasty, 1750-1800:

Table, Ming dynasty, 1426-35:

Folding armchair, Ming dynasty 1500-60:

Amphora with floral design, Qing dynasty 1723-35:

Obviously,these photos represent the tiniest percentage of what's on display in these galleries, but these objects particularly appealed to me.

I then revisited the Diva! exhibit and took pictures this time!

Ceiling projections at the Diva! exhibit:

Dresses worn by Judy Garland, Bette Davis & Joan Crawford:

Edith Piaf (she was SO tiny! 4'8"):

Ella Fitzgerald:

Barbara Streisand from Funny Girl:

Shirley Bassey:

Tina Turner:

Cher, designed by the great Bob Mackie:

Rihanna:

Elton John:

Even when there isn’t a special exhibit, the fashion gallery displays wonderful items.  The V&A collection is massive, so the clothing displays change frequently.

Evening coat by Marshall & Snelgrove, London, Oxford Street; 1895-1900:

Princess-line evening dress, 1878-80; Great Britain:

Man's formal coat, 1760-69; Great Britain, possibly of French velvet;

Gown, 1770-79; The Netherlands of English copper-plate printed cotton:

We  had a bite of lunch and Uber-ed (is that a verb?) to Victoria station for the ride to Ashtead.  From the station it was just a short walk to our home for the next 3+ weeks.  Our hosts, Francesca and Charlie were so lovely and welcoming and Gandalf, their cat, is beautiful.  We got settled in while they were finishing their packing and preparations.  That evening, we checked out the local pub which is just down the road and had dinner there.  Probably won’t do that again.