The word 'maharaja' - literally 'great king' - conjures up a vision of splendour and magnificence. This book examines the real and perceived worlds of the maharaja from the early eighteenth century to 1947, when the Indian Princes ceded their territories into the modern states of India and Pakistan.

In Medieval and Renaissance Europe, where life expectancy was under forty and the Church taught that, after dying, the soul faced a terrifying and uncertain onward journey, death in Medieval and Renaissance Europe was a major preoccupation. This book sets out the beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife in a mainly Catholic Europe.

From recipes for plague amulets to aphrodisiacs and formulas for things from lip balm to paint pigments, this book takes you into the secret world of Renaissance trades and explains why certain recipes were jealously guarded whilst others were printed for a new popular readership.

The jewellery worn in medieval Europe was important as an indicator of the wearer's social status and wealth, faith and superstition, allegiances and literacy. This illustrated book looks at the jewels themselves and contemporary portraits and sculpture to place the jewellery in its cultural context.

Of all the riches of the sixteenth-century European nobleman, none spoke more powerfully of his heroism, wealth and taste than his armour, clothing and weapons. This book looks at the suits designed to kill, protect and impress.

'You have a much better life if you wear impressive clothes', according to Vivienne Westwood. A global icon, Vivienne Westwood's career has spanned three decades from the early days of punk to the successful establishment of her own fashion house. This book is a study of her work as a ground-breaking fashion designer.

Explores the social contexts responsible for some of V&A museum's most captivating objects, both commonplace and precious, to recover the attitudes of makers and owners towards artistic practice. This book also presents a general historical introduction to the social and political background that explore conceptions of art, workshops and sales.

Leonardo never lost his awe of the wonders of natural design and this ground-breaking book communicates a comparable sense of wonder through the continued grandeur and freshness of Leonardo's incomparable vision. This title presents a study that illuminates the fundamental aspect of Leonardo's work - how he thought visually.

Focuses on Parisian and British couture between 1947 and 1957, a decade that Christian Dior described as fashion's 'golden age'. This work features stunning gowns and exquisite tailoring from designers such as Balenciaga, Balmain, Givenchy, and Dior as well as photographs by the likes of Richard Avedon and Cecil Beaton.

Chinese ceramics are among the most widely admired and collected in the world. From elegant Song celadons to decorative Ming vases and colourful Qing famille rose, ceramics produced in China have influenced taste and daily life globally. This book looks at the production, consumption, aesthetics and transfer of Chinese ceramics.

Guides you through style decisions, from blazers and brogues to skiing and sandals. This work is illustrated with photographs and drawings from the 60s.

Tipu's Tiger is one of the V&A's most enduringly famous and fascinating objects. Commissioned in the 1790s by Tipu Sultan of Mysore, who kept the spectacular wooden semi-automaton in the music room of his palace, the tiger was shipped to London after Tipu was killed in 1799. This book explores the continuing appeal of Tipu Sultan's tiger.

Part of the V&A Fashion in Detail series, this book illustrates the intricate details of twentieth-century fashion with photographs, expert commentaries and line drawings.

In 1947 Christian Dior rocked the fashion world with his New Look which dominated post war fashion and firmly secured the name of his house in the minds of the public and the fashion industry. This book examines the seminal years of Christian Dior, 1947-1957, from an international perspective.

Showcases the opulence and variety of 19th-century fashion through colour photography and line drawings of the garments. This book reveals the period from the embroidery on neoclassical gowns to the colours of crinolines and the tailoring of men's coats. It also reveals the garments that illustrate some of the major themes of 19th-century dress.

Offers a view of the world of millinery. This work examines the inspiration behind the creation of hats and the history of their construction.

Celebrates V&A's status as a source of inspiration for designers, reflecting the breadth and depth of a collection that represents over 3,000 years of objects from all over the world.

An introduction to the artefacts produced around the Indian courts, for the wealthy bourgeoisie and for trade. Separate sections cover the arts of Mughal India, the Mughals, the Deccans, the Rajputs, the Europeans in India, Indian provincial courts after 1750 and the Great Exhibitions and their influence.

Celebrates V&A's status as a source of inspiration for designers, reflecting the breadth and depth of a collection that represents over 3,000 years of objects from all over the world.

This work looks at Gabrielle Chanel's career, her workroom, her customers and her rivals. It focuses on Chanel the couturiere, her innovations and her influence on the way women choose to look in the modern world. The story is brought up to 1994 based on an interview with Karl Lagerfeld.