Eye of the Beholder

This week: We uncover the story about how Gary Haase, a 69-year-old father of three from Las Vegas, was crowned King Pokémon. His collection of Pokémon cards is worth more than $10 million, and he even sold one of his rare cards to Youtuber Logan Paul for $150,000 in 2020. We speak to Gary about his collection and how the Pokémon card craze has evolved from childhood collectibles in the 1990s to a...

Behind all the sensational headlines of rediscovered artworks around the world, there is a whole process of authentication and evaluation. Evaluating a work of art is a difficult exercise that requires a great deal of knowledge about a period, an artist, a movement and the market. In this episode we meet Betsy Thomas, who has been appraising art for over 25 years and now teaches the techniques of...

In today's episode, we explore the fascinating world of rare and antique books. We speak with Steve "The Bookman" Eisenstein, a seasoned rare bookie with over 50 years of experience. He hosts the popular radio show "Bucks On The Bookshelf" and has shared his knowledge in numerous videos on identifying and selling rare and out-of-print books. We ask Steve about his personal journey with antique boo...

What is censored art today, and why is it still an issue? What are the most famous censored artworks in history? How long have female artists been suffering from censorship in a patriarcal society? This week we talk with Dr Gareth Harris, author of "Censored Art Today", about his mission to expose the censors of the art world and the debates around the so-called 'cancel culture'. Get ready to hear...

Collecting wines can be a challenging but also very rewarding experience. In this episode we talk to Peter Mansell, Head of Department Wine & Spirits at Tate Ward Auctions in London. We discuss about the main aspects of this fascinating type of "liquid investment", about valuable wines and the future of the wine industry. Produced by Figaro Music and Media Group.

As an early adopter and collector of digital art, Pablo Rodriguez-Fraile is one of the curators of the current exhibition 'Beyond Digital' on display at Venus Over Manhattan in New York. This exhibit, which showcases his personal collection, is the first ever to showcase a single collection of digital art in a contemporary art gallery and aims to broaden the understanding of the creative value of...

What will be the hottest trends of 2023? Digital auction house Catawiki has collaborated with the market research company Ipsos to identify the trends that will shape the world of collectibles in 2023. In the second part of our interview, Catawiki's experts reveal to us what the future of the auction market looks like – from the toys and collectibles market to luxury fashion, sports memorabilia an...

The art world's focus seems to be shifting more and more to the value of art as a financial asset,  with creative and artistic considerations too often taking a backseat. ArtEconomy exposes this imbalance and 'eliminates' the figure of the artist, paradoxically using the same tools of the financial world. In this episode, we talk to ArtEconomy's International Brand Manager, Giuseppe Roatti, about...

Vintage fashion is more relevant than ever before, not least because of the sustainability aspect. Art historian Ruby Redstone is one of those who brought vintage fashion to the most famous catwalk in the world - the streets of New York. With the motto that fashion is Freedom. Produced by Figaro Music and Media Group.

Royal jewelry is well known because of its style, quality and famous wearers. Gemologists and jewel historians Carolina Tüür and Victoria Astudillo tell us the colorful stories behind iconic pieces that have adorned both royalty and trendsetting celebrities. Produced by Figaro Music and Media Group.

Bold design, powerful engines, and strong brands are behind the increased interest in classic cars, but the highest bid comes when one of the world's most famous women has driven the car. In this week's episode, we talk about the most expensive Ford Escort in history and why one of England's foremost experts of classic and modern exotic cars, Arwel Richards, a Specialist at Silverstone Auctions dr...

What will be the hottest trends of 2023? In this week's episode, fashion expert Lorenzo Altimani, design expert Eleonor Floret and collectibles expert Kees Smit reveal what the future of the auction market looks like. The three experts, currently working for the digital auction house Catawiki, collaborated with market research company Ipsos to identify the trends that will shape the world of colle...

In this week's episode, we talk to Emma Brown, a spokesperson for Just Stop Oil, about why the group's recent targeting of famous artworks has become their most successful campaign ever, and what it will take to get the activists to stop. Produced by Figaro Music and Media Group.

In recent years, wristwatches have become one of the fastest growing collecting areas. Brands such as Rolex, Patek Phillipe and Omega are today as strong as the leading fashion houses in the luxury goods industry. This week, we had the pleasure of speaking with one of the key market players, Alexandre Ghotbi, Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East Director at Phillips, whose inter...

For most people, experts and collectibles are confined to the auction room, but their value extends far beyond the art market and can sometimes serve other industries. This week, we look at the relationship between art experts and the motion picture industry with Valerie Hammond, an antique jewellery dealer whose expertise served on the set of Guillermo del Toro's latest film, "Nightmare Alley". R...

This summer, a new auction record was set when a Mickey Mantle rookie card was sold for a slightly unbelievable 12 million dollars. In this episode we meet Chris Ivy from Heritage Auctions who was responsible for the incredible sale. Produced by Figaro Music and Media Group.

NFT and Crypto Art have been on everyone's lips for the past few years. Now the market seems to enter a new reality. Today we talk about Art and Innovation with Andrea Concas, entrepreneur, populariser, teacher and speaker. Together we discuss about Digital Art, NFTs, the investment aspect of these non tangible tokens and their value on the market. Produced by Figaro Music and Media Group.

Diamonds aren't just a girl's best friend. Listen to Mayfair Diamonds' Jonty Condrup, who carries more than 40 years' experience in the jewellery industry, talk about everything from the world's famous jewellery pieces to uncut diamonds, and learn more about why diamonds are a good investment and how to source the best vintage pieces. Produced by Figaro Music and Media Group.

Although the auction industry is by nature one of the most sustainable industries that exists, much remains to be done to meet environmental requirements. Today we talk to Tom Woolston, Global Head of Operations of Christie's, about their net-zero vision and sustainable ethos.  Produced by Figaro Music and Media Group

NFTs, blockchain, speculative bubbles. These are the buzz words on the lips of just about every person in the art world. But what do they mean exactly? And, more importantly, what do they mean for physical artworks? Is analogue art becoming obsolete, and what about its value? We discuss this and more in today's episode with Kirsten Hinder Co-Founder of Nfinitymark. Produced by Figaro Music and Med...

Unconventional furniture creates a unique environment and expresses the individuality of its owners. We chat with Barnebys' Italian Editor Daniela Neri to discuss some of Italy's most eccentric creations, as well as the future trends we can expect for furniture. Produced by Figaro Music and Media Group

Is art for everyone? One person who thought the art world was far too exclusive was a young man named Will Ramsay. Today, he is the Founder and CEO of the Affordable Art Fair and Ramsay Fairs, which has grown into 13 art fairs across 10 countries. This week, the Affordable Art Fair opens in Stockholm, and in a couple of week, London. We meet Will Ramsey and Carl Wilhlem Hirsch, Manager of the Affo...

Among his chess sets and books, Luke Honey has a penchant for mixing his classic gin and tonics. Meet one of the inspiring voices of the British antiques industry who believes in analogue values and new technologies   Produced by Figaro Music & Media Group.

It is often said that thieves and criminals are always one step ahead, and that opportunity makes the thief. Unfortunately, this is no exception when it comes to one of the fastest growing categories in the secondary market globally - wristwatches. In today's episode we meet Katya Hills from The Watch Register to talk about how to avoid being deceived, or unknowingly deceiving others, when either...

Last weekend harkened the return of the Art Business Conference in London, bringing together the authorities of the art world to discuss the current market's key issues. In this week's episode, we speak to Melanie Gerlis, the weekly art market columnist for the  Financial Times  and the conference's chair, to reflect on the insights and main themes discussed, from sustainability and the rise of th...