Ploy Radford

Past Matters

Society EN ↓ 56 episodes

Museums, galleries and historic houses are treasure troves of items from the past. But how easy is it at these sites to unknowingly just walk straight past an object with an incredible story to tell? In this podcast series host Ploy Radford talks to the experts at different museums, galleries and historic houses about the most underrated objects in their collection, and unveils some fantastic facts.

Author

Ploy Radford

Episodes

Alfred Munnings' Newlyn sketchbooks - Munnings Art Museum 20.06.2019 19:57

 This episode is for those people who love animals and art because in it, I interview Jenny Hand, curator at Munnings Art Museum. Alfred Munnings was a famous 20th century impressionist painter, particular known for his paintings of horses.  The objects Jenny picked though, are actually remarkably animal free - they are the sketchbooks from his years living in Cornwall. Listen in to lear...

Regency dairy - Weald & Downland Living Museum 13.06.2019 31:28

Nestled among the reconstructed low-status farm buildings in Weald & Downland Living Museum is an almost fairytale-like structure. It wasn't the home of fairytale heroine though - it's actually an ornamental dairy from Regency England. Although, there are marks within it to ward off witches and evil spirits... To learn more about this building which visitors have walked past but will only be a...

Self-portrait of Emma Brownlow - The Foundling Museum 05.06.2019 36:22

It would be very easy to walk by the small, understated self-portrait of Emma Brownlow at the Foundling Museum in London, but it would be a travesty to not pay more attention to someone whose works provide such an interesting insight into life at the UK's first ever children's charity - the Foundling Hospital. The daughter of a former foundling who then became the head of the charity meant Emma gr...

Japanned Chinoiserie cabinet - Christchurch Mansion 22.05.2019 21:30

Thought furniture was boring? Nonsense! Come and listen to episode 2 of Past Matters and learn about secret compartments and boudoir calendars in this interview with Bob Entwistle, Conservation Officer at Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich.  The object up for discussion is a Japanned Chinoiserie cabinet that dates from the early 1700s. You can view a picture of it on Ployradford.com. 

Renaissance parade sallet - The Wallace Collection 15.05.2019 36:43

Can weapons be art? How can you do armour - something worn to be admired from a 360 degree angle - justice in a museum? And did you know there were armour-making dynasties in renaissance Europe?  Download this first ever episode of Past Matters to hear Dr Tobias Capwell, Curator of Arms and Armour at the Wallace Collection, London, explore these topics and more with journalist Ploy Radford. T...

Introduction to Past Matters 21.04.2019 1:57

Journalist Ploy Radford introduces herself and what Past Matters is all about. 