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.
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In this second Spring Special episode, we focus on two objects on the smaller end of the scale at the V&A. On display in the newly revamped Gilbert Collection galleries, the objects are the earliest example of a snuffbox used for international diplomacy and a beautifully detailed micromosaic perfume flask.
In the first of these Spring Specials 2026, historian Adrian Murdoch talks about what makes Herculaneum such a unique historic site, and focuses in on the stories of two citizens whose lives are preserved in the ashes there: Marcus Nonius Balbus and Petronia Iusta.
Hear historian Dr Jane Draycott reveal the fascinating life of Fulvia - the woman who defied all the rules in Ancient Rome.
In this episode Dr Jo Ball shares the stories behind three military tombstones from Roman Britain, touching on themes of life and death in the Roman empire, what it means to be a Roman and more.
In the second of a two part episode focused on Chatsworth House, Assistant Curator Katherine Hardwick-Kulpa shares the mysteries around a carved limewood cravat .
In the first of a two-part episode focused on the English stately home Chatsworth House, Assistant Curator Katherine Hardwick-Kulpa explains to host Ploy Radford-Taylor why a small table tucked away in the West Sketch Gallery is actually one of the most significant pieces of furniture in the house's collection.
In this episode of Past Matters, academic and author Emily Hauser shines a light on the women who inspired the female characters of Homer's great epics.
Season 5 opens with an interview with Hannah Bradbury-Crowther, Curator of Diverse Histories at the National Museum of the Royal Navy sharing the tales the figurehead of the HMS Queen Charlotte has seen...
In this New Year special to round off season 4, author Amber Chen reveals the historical influences behind her silkpunk fantasy novel ‘Of Jade and Dragons’.
Luc Amkreutz, curator of the prehistory collections at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, reveals the story behind the Sword of Ommerschans, currently on display as part of the 'Bronze Age: Fires of Change' exhibition. The giant ceremonial Bronze Age sword provides a fascinating insight into an overlooked part of history that actually heralded great cultural change in society.
