Curious Objects

The Magazine Antiques
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Through interviews with leading figures in the world of fine and decorative arts, Curious Objects—a podcast from The Magazine Antiques—explores the hidden histories, the little-known facts, the intricacies, and the idiosyncrasies that breathe life and energy into historical works of craft and art.

  1. An Earthly Paradise

    25 FEB

    An Earthly Paradise

    In this episode of Curious Objects, host Benjamin Miller is joined by Art Historian and author extraordinaire, Verity Babbs to talk about the wondrous world of William Morris’s wallpaper. Verity Babbs received a degree in Art History from Oxford University and also works as a stand up comedian. With this unique career blend, she aims to demystify the study of art and talk about the elitism that has surrounded the field in the past. Verity also has an Instagram series where she visits antique shops and thrift stores to find significant objects with interesting stories.

    35 min
  2. Have Hope Will Sparkle

    11 FEB

    Have Hope Will Sparkle

    This is an episode worthy of going into the "rock" star hall of fame - get ready for an exciting hour about the Hope Diamond!  Host Ben Miller is joined by Melise Ozkardesler to discuss this curious object, its history and the world of collecting ancient gemstones.

    1h 4m
  3. Something Blue - Delftware ceramics and the women who made them

    7 JAN

    Something Blue - Delftware ceramics and the women who made them

    Join Curious Objects host, Benjamin Miller in a conversation with Genevieve Wheeler Brown, the author of Beyond Blue and White to talk about the history of Delftware ceramics through the female lens. We learn about the fantastic women who made these coveted ceramics and understand the humor behind these fascinating pieces of decorative arts.

    39 min
  4. Painting with Glass in Limoges

    02/12/2025

    Painting with Glass in Limoges

    In this episode, Host Benjamin Miller is joined by Laura Kugel of the Galerie Kugel in Paris to discuss the fascinating art of enameling from Limoges, France. Described by the poet Théophile Gautier in 1866 as “the immarcescible (indestructible) enamel”, these objects from the Renaissance still look as fresh today as they did when they emerged from the kiln all those years ago. Coveted by the likes of Givenchy, J.P. Morgan and Yves Saint Laurent, these objects remain popular even today. Listen in to learn more about these delightful creations..

    41 min
  5. 135,500 Pieces (Of Wood)

    12/11/2025

    135,500 Pieces (Of Wood)

    In this episode, the fine line between obsession and madness, illustrated in a piece of furniture. Toledo Museum of Art curator Erin Corrales-Diaz joins Ben to discuss a unique secretary desk which might hold the world record for inlay: thousands upon thousands of pieces of wood, which in its maker’s own words, “will do more in ten minutes to inspire young people with the possibilities of life than ten years of haphazard and scattered endeavor.

    34 min
  6. Fighting for Freedom

    23/04/2025

    Fighting for Freedom

    This episode brings two Curious Objects veterans and one first-timer back to the show to discuss the groundbreaking exhibition they've curated, Fighting for Freedom: Black Craftspeople and the Pursuit of Independence. Our object is a fine neoclassical table made in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1819, by a firm where enslaved cabinetmaker James worked. Ben and his guests explore some of the misconceptions around enslaved craftspeople, the complicated relationships they often had with their enslavers, and what this table can tell us about all of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min

  7. 12/03/2025

    "Junking" with Ralph Lauren Creative Director Mary Randolph Carter

    You may know Mary Randolph Carter (who goes by the name Carter) as the longtime director of Ralph Lauren. But she is also a savvy collector, and an eloquent exponent for the art of the same. Her latest book, Live With the Things You Love, and You'll Live Happily Ever After, delves into private collections the world over, drawing connections between environments full of interesting objects and the good life. In this episode Carter expounds on objects in her own collection, from the odd “Jello Rock Clock” to the sublime painted-plaster-and-wood Statue of the Blessed Lady. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    34 min

  8. 15/01/2025

    Lost and Found in Cleveland

    In this episode Ben Miller welcomes Keith Gerchak and Marisa Guterman, makers of the upcoming film Lost and Found in Cleveland. Featuring beloved stars like Martin Sheen and Jon Lovitz, along with *checks notes* “Constipated Appraiser” (Denise Dal Vera), the film follows a cast of characters intertwined with and connected to the world of antiques. Miller, Gerchak, and Guterman dig into the nitty-gritty behind the picture, the post-industrial American Dream in the Midwest, and the inspiration aplenty that came from Antiques Roadshow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    50 min
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About

Through interviews with leading figures in the world of fine and decorative arts, Curious Objects—a podcast from The Magazine Antiques—explores the hidden histories, the little-known facts, the intricacies, and the idiosyncrasies that breathe life and energy into historical works of craft and art.

Information

  • Creator
    The Magazine Antiques
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    129
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Curious Objects

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