Episodes

Fine forgery or authentic antique? Only the skilled detectives at the museum can solve this case! Most cabinets that still exist from the Renaissance are in rough shape—which makes sense for something that’s at least 400 years old. So when curators saw that the Renaissance-style wooden cabinet J. Paul Getty had purchased was in great shape, they suspected it was a more recent copy. But after a visit to an exhibition of other French furniture from the Renaissance, curators saw clues that this fa...

This vase might be nearly 10 feet tall and weigh half a ton, but the snail who hangs around its base isn’t intimidated. This plucky guest will tell you all about their enormous home, and how it traveled to three World’s Fairs looking for a buyer. They’re confident that artists can learn a lot from snails—artists need to look at the world slowly to find inspiration, and having a hard shell helps them deal with critical reviews. Learn about World’s Fairs at the end of the 19th century and the cr...

It’s hard to stay awake when you’re a luxurious, fluffy, silk-covered bed! Our leading lady will try, though, as she reminisces about the many, many hands who worked hard to make her. From the carpenter and gilder (yes, a person whose job is just to turn her gold!) to the upholsterer, in 18th-century France, making a bed was exhausting work! If this bed story tires you out, she’s also got a bedtime story for you. Speaking of beds and many hands reminds her of the classic French fairy tale “The ...

This great green dragon takes his position at the top of the clock very seriously. Accompanied by a monkey and a goose, these time guardians ensure there will be no “killing time” on their watch! To demonstrate the value of time, the dragon outlines the history of clocks—from sundials and waterclocks, to medieval clocks with bells, to household mechanical clocks like his. Not only is his clock a marvel of machinery, it’s also an artistic wonder, showcasing the strength and beauty of a special n...

One giant blue orb dotted with stars, six griffins, 12 zodiac symbols, 18 candle holders, countless crystals—and even a bowl to fill with goldfish! Have you ever seen something so elaborate just hanging from the ceiling? This is the description of an extraordinary chandelier, made around 1819 to hang in a fancy French home, perhaps over a dining table. Imagine eating dinner with a goldfish overhead! In this episode, one of the griffins shares how her bronze body turned to gold, as well as her ...

Why is The Vexed Man making that scrunched up face? Has he tasted a lemon? Smelled a skunk? Nope—that’s just his thinking face! This intensely tense alabaster sculpture of a head is used to people staring and trying to do their own versions of his extreme expression. Take it from him, though, it feels much nicer to relax than to be so stiff all the time. Hear this sculpture’s story of alabaster carving and 18th-century Vienna, followed by a relaxing breathing exercise—because even if you’re no...

As soon as he arrived in Los Angeles, Purrquoise, the turquoise cat, was a star. But this charismatic kitty traveled a long way to get here! Made in China in the 1750s, he moved by ship to France, where he padded around with the rich and famous—like Madame de Pompadour, noted companion of King Louis XV—as well as those who served them. After a few centuries there, he traveled across the Atlantic and settled in at the Getty Museum in 2024. Adjusting to a new culture takes time, an open mind, and...

It’s a knight! It’s a cat! No, it’s a…flea? Picture it: the French countryside, 1751. A young flea prepares for his moment in the spotlight—of a magnificent gold and sharkskin microscope. This compound microscope was the height of scientific knowledge, showcasing both the newest technology and fashionable design. It allowed people—including science lovers like King Louis XV—to discover new worlds in small things. In this first episode of season two, learn about compound microscopes, the Enligh...

Announcing Season 2, this mini-episode features Purrquoise, a bright turquoise porcelain cat that was made in China in the 1700s and has traveled the world ever since. Now that he’s made himself at home in Los Angeles, he’s ready to pitch his script all about the storming of the Bastille and the French Revolution. Of course, if he can’t get that movie made, he’s still excited to announce that If Objects Can Talk returns this fall with ten more stories from adventurous, luxurious—and sometimes v...