Decorative Arts/Design/Crafts/Textiles
Victoria and Albert Museum 
If you like poking around in attics, you'll love this site! You can view over 10,000 images of ceramics, fashion, furniture, glass, metalwork, paintings, photographs, prints, sculpture, and textiles from this museum's collection of applied and decorative arts. You can go to the Explore section and view sample objects by type (Asian/Islamic Art; European Art; British Art; 20th Century Art; Jewelry; Textiles and Clothing; Ceramics and Glass; Painting, Print, and Photography) or you can use the Access to Images section to explore the full online collection. You will find historical background information for many of the objects in the collection.
Intended Audience: General
Reading Level: Middle School
Teacher Section: Yes
Searchable: Yes
National Gallery of Art - Decorative Arts
View some of the works of decorative arts housed in the National Gallery of Art including Chinese porcelains, French Renaissance ceramics, Medieval metalwork and enamels, Italian Renaissance ceramics, French decorative arts from the 1700s, Rococo items, and Art Nouveau items.
Intended Audience: General
Reading Level: Middle School
Teacher Section: No
Searchable: No
World Ceramics
Learn about ceramic art around the world. Find out how pieces were made, how they were used, and what a virtual artist and art historian have to say about each piece.
Intended Audience: Students
Reading Level: Elementary/Middle School
Teacher Section: No
Searchable: No
The Textile Museum
Learn more about the world of textiles in
Common Threads an interactive learning experience, view examples of textile works in the Textile of the Month Archive, or learn about Ottoman embroidery at this Washington, DC museum dedicated to the textile arts.
Intended Audience: General
Reading Level: Middle School
Teacher Section: Yes
Searchable: No
Textile Museum of Canada
You can access some of the items in this Museum's collection of textiles through an online database. You can also view items in online exhibits.
Intended Audience: General
Reading Level: Middle School
Teacher Section: No
Searchable: Yes
Beautiful Bodies: Form and Decoration of African Pots
Learn more about pottery making and the history of pots in African history and culture at this site from the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art.
Intended Audience: General
Reading Level: Middle School
Teacher Section: No
Searchable: No
Metropolitan Museum of Art: American Decorative Arts
View examples of American ceramics, furniture, glassware, silver, and textiles housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You can view an enlargement of each item and et a detailed description.
Intended Audience: General
Reading Level: Middle School
Teacher Section: No
Searchable: No
Metropolitan Museum of Art: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
View examples of European ceramics, furniture, glassware, and metal works housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. You can view an enlargement of each item and et a detailed description.
Intended Audience: General
Reading Level: Middle School
Teacher Section: No
Searchable: No
Metropolitan Museum of Art: Costume Institute
Examine 50 items for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute. You can view an enlargement of each item and et a detailed description.
Intended Audience: General
Reading Level: Middle School
Teacher Section: No
Searchable: No
Museum of Costume
This museum in Bath, England displays articles of men's, women's, and children's fashion from the 16th-20th century. You can view selected items in the museum's collection or test your historical fashion knowledge with Costume Drama Game where you can dress a model in the correct clothing for that year.
Intended Audience: General
Reading Level: Middle School
Teacher Section: No
Searchable: No
