Upon its opening in 1852, the Victoria and Albert Museum was known as the Museum of Manufactures and was a legacy of Prince Albert to the British people in the aftermath of the Great Exhibition of 1851. This museum houses the world's biggest collection of decorative arts, from ancient Asian pottery and Middle Eastern carpets to Chinese artwork, Western furniture, fashion from all eras, and modern appliances. Visitors can enjoy the (ticketed) temporary exhibitions, which feature an array of topics from David Bowie to Mary Quant and car design to special materials and trends.