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.

It can be very easy to walk by jewellery in an exhibition because these items tend to be very small. Don’t skip by this episode of Past Matters though – in it I talk to to Colchester Museums’ Senior Collections and Learning Curator Glynn Davis about some exquisite pieces of Roman jewellery that cast new light on the inhabitants of Roman Colchester, show off the skill of jewellers and gems cutters of the time, and reveal more about Roman jewellery trends. 

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.