What is Luxury?

Curated by the V&A and Crafts Council, this exhibition dissects the idea of luxury, addressing how it is made and understood in a physical, conceptual and cultural capacity. Are things deemed luxurious because they're made with incredible skill and innovation, or because of the valuable materials they're made from? 'What is Luxury?' will feature examples of both – marvel at an entirely handcrafted mechanical timepiece by renowned British watchmaker George Daniels and a golden headphone jack.

Desirable objects can also be made from undesirable materials, though; Studio Swine have set human hair in resin to create highly decorative furniture, and one of the diamonds in the collection is made from road kill. More traditional highlights include a couture gown by fashion designer Christian Lacroix and objects made from tortoiseshell, horn and exotic wood. The future of luxury will also be explored in relation to space, time, privacy and well-being, with the show questioning how access to resources and skill may determine the choices and aspirations of the consumer.