What makes antiques and art valuable to people? Why do they seemingly pay so much for certain things? We try to cast light on this from the details of the sales of a 17th century leather jug, an electric guitar, six early 19th century silver spoons, a collection of 18th and 19th century walking sticks, and two wood carved overweight figures. We investigate how CITES relates to some of these.

Then onto the question of the accessibility of museums and the personal experience of an art historian. And do publicly accessible antiques and art have a responsibility to inform and entertain and never to offend? We offer some examples to test your curiosity and thresholds.

Original broadcast date 29.03.2021

Where does the expression “fits to a T” come from? We explain the origins and illustrate the program with fitting examples, touting a Toby jug (who was Toby?), Tin Tin (“tintinalia”?), a tiny Tea service (too small to use) and a towering Trophy.

This is followed by the Trials and Tribulations of museums. These institutions are repositories of expertise and forums for academic debate. So how, then, do they deal with the issue of fakes and alleged fakes which come under their aegis? We take a good look at a case in question, and witness a very robust debate indeed!

Original broadcast date 01.03.2021

This program tips us off about Brexit and changes to British hallmarking and about the real purpose of a Russian 1930’s travel poster. We hear details of an 18th century silver salver made by someone equally proficient in glass and enamel manufacturing.

We find out more about women in the book industry and also about chapbooks (not what they sound like). We find out about an early (pre-chess) board game with a hard to pronounce name, but one useful for the Scrabble board. We examine the museum heist. How do crooks dispose of the stolen works? It's harder (luckily) than you might think.

Original broadcast date 01.02.2021

A book about the antiques trade and a book about thimbles (etc.) and some historic thimbles themselves. Australian fauna and flora (prints etc) and some fascinating explosive information. A useful scrabble word – well actually an object to do with an ancient sport.

There is the manifestation of a moving WWI love story, an explanation of how a Museum etc might acquire objects, news of a serious underwater museum, and some very good reasons to visit the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. Who was the Lord of Lord’s cricket ground?

Original broadcast date 04.01.2021