What makes an object collectible? This talk explores the biographies of three remarkable objects in the Waddesdon collection, examining their materials and craftsmanship, their makers and owners, their journeys to Waddesdon, and the role of Ferdinand de Rothschild as collector and connoisseur. Along the way, we will consider how objects acquire new meanings through collecting and display.

Lucinda is an art historian and sessional tutor who has taught History of Art at the University of Warwick. She particularly enjoys exploring how objects acquire meaning through their materials, makers, owners and changing contexts, and is passionate about making art history engaging and accessible to wider audiences.