Editing Victoria and Albert Museum (section)

===Textiles===
The collection of textiles consists of more than 53,000 examples, mainly western European though all populated continents are represented, dating from the 1st century AD to the present, this is the largest such collection in the world. Techniques represented include weaving, printing, [[quilting]] embroidery, [[lace]], [[tapestry]] and carpets. These are classified by technique, countries of origin and date of production. The collections are well represented in these areas: early silks from the Near East, lace, European tapestries and English medieval church embroidery.

The tapestry collection includes a fragment of the [[St. Gereon's Basilica, Cologne#Cloth of Saint Gereon|Cloth of St Gereon]], the oldest known surviving European tapestry. A highlight of the collection is the four [[Devonshire Hunting Tapestries]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.vandaimages.com/results.asp?cat1=Devonshire+Hunting+Tapestries&X8=17-15 | title = Stock photo and image search by V&A Images | publisher = VandAimages.com | access-date = 21 August 2011 }}</ref> very rare 15th-century tapestries, woven in the Netherlands, depicting the hunting of various animals; not just their age but their size make these unique. Both of the major English centres of tapestry weaving of the 16th and 17th centuries respectively, Sheldon & [[Mortlake]] are represented in the collection by several examples. Also included are tapestries from John Vanderbank's workshop which was the leading English tapestry manufactory in the late 17th century and early 18th century. Some of the finest tapestries are examples from the [[Gobelins Manufactory|Gobelins]] workshop, including a set of 'Jason and the Argonauts' dating from the 1750s. Other continental centres of tapestry weaving with work in the collection include [[Brussels tapestry|Brussels]], [[Tournai]], [[Beauvais tapestry|Beauvais]], [[Strasbourg]] and [[Florence]].

One of the earliest surviving examples of European quilting, the late 14th-century [[Sicily|Sicilian]] [[Tristan Quilt]], is also held by the collection. The collection has numerous examples of various types of textiles designed by [[William Morris]],<ref>Linda Parry (ed.), ''William Morris'', 1996, pp.&nbsp;234–95.</ref> including, embroidery, woven fabrics, tapestries (including ''The Forest'' tapestry of 1887), rugs and carpets, as well as pattern books and paper designs. The art deco period is covered by rugs and fabrics designed by [[Marion Dorn]]. From the same period there is a rug designed by [[Serge Chermayeff]].

The collection also includes the [[Oxburgh Hangings]], which were made by [[Mary, Queen of Scots]] and [[Bess of Hardwick]].<ref name="vam.ac.uk oxburgh">{{Cite web|url=https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O138524/the-oxburgh-hangings-panel-mary-queen-of/|title=The Oxburgh Hangings &#124; Elizabeth Talbot &#124; Mary Queen of Scots &#124; V&A Explore The Collections|first=Victoria and Albert|last=Museum|website=Victoria and Albert Museum: Explore the Collections}}</ref> However, the Oxburgh Hangings are on permanent long-term loan at [[Oxburgh Hall]].<ref name="vam.ac.uk oxburgh"/>

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File:MilleFleurTapestry.jpg|[[Mille-fleur|Mille Fleur]] Tapestry, Flemish, 16th-century Flemish
File:Boar and Bear Hunt.jpg|[[Devonshire Hunting Tapestries]], Detail of the Boar and Bear Hunt, Netherlands, mid-15th century
File:Azerbaijani carpet "Barda" (First variant - "Chelebi") in the Victoria and Albert Museum.jpg|[[Azerbaijani rugs|Azerbaijani]] carpet "Barda" (First variant - "Chelebi"),<ref>Kerimov L. Azerbaijani carpet. Vol III. Baku, 1983. p. 294 (ill. 112)</ref> Karabakh group. 19th-century
</gallery>