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PODCAST

The Curious Collector

Stuart Holbrook

The world of collecting and collectors is a curious one….and it’s where I’ve spent most of my life. I’m Stuart Holbrook and as President of Theriault’s - the world’s leader in the auction of antique dolls and figurative art – I’ve traveled the world managing this often personal and always wild experience of collecting and being a collector. Now, I’m bringing my expertise and knowledge of trends to life in my new podcast - The Curious Collector. In each episode, I’ll be sharing my experience - and

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All Episodes

82:02

Collector Conversations: Ursula Mertz

The Curious Collector ·

2026/10/01

Ursula Mertz, the German immigrant to America who would ironically come to define the American doll of the 1900-1950 era, is a true national treasure. Her research and vibrant personality shaped a generational understanding of this category in dolls and allowed them a home where appreciation and respect would follow. Her countless articles and the landmark, Encyclopedia of American Composition Dolls, have guided collectors on the subject for decades. In this episode of The Curious Collector, Ursula

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49:31

The Healing Power of Dolls - The Juliet Peliukh Story.

The Curious Collector ·

2026/09/14

This is a story that needed to be told. Theriault's President Stuart Holbrook narrates the difficult recent life of acclaimed Ukrainian doll artist, Juliet Peliukh. A story that started with a tragedy in 2009, was upended again by the war in 2022, and is still unfolding today. It is a heartbreaking tale of survival; a tale in which dolls have served as a central thread of hope. There's no tidy ending here. Juliet isn't pretending there is one, and she wouldn't want us to either

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74:27

Contemporary Art Dolls: Coming of Age

The Curious Collector ·

2026/09/02

Theriault's President Stuart Holbrook details his recent journey to the annual NIADA - National Institute of American Doll Artists - conference which brings together doll artists and patrons from across the world. He shares his reflections from his time there and, as well, the premise of the keynote talk he gave to attendees. That is, history is our greatest teacher. And as contemporary art dolls come of age and leave the realm of “modern” it’s important to know what will resonate over

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75:08

Collector Conversations: Bradley Justice Yarbrough

The Curious Collector ·

2026/07/18

Collector Conversations is now a regular addition to The Curious Collector podcast that allows listeners to understand the lives, inspirations, and pursuits of so many different collectors around the world. Best of all, it's a chance to hear it all candidly from their own perspectives in order to inspire those just starting this journey - as well as validating those long established collectors with familiar experiences. In this episode, Stuart Holbrook, President of Theriault's, talks to

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82:26

The Reluctant Heir

The Curious Collector ·

2026/07/03

In this episode of The Curious Collector, Theriault's President Stuart Holbrook takes us through his forty-years of experience in handling heirs and collections and why some turn into a wonderful process of honoring a relative while others can turn contentious. With stories of success, alongside cautionary tales of things gone wrong, he helps to identify the why of each so that collectors now can better prepare their heirs and collections for the future - as well for heirs to understand more

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74:51

Collector Conversations: Catherine Peterson

The Curious Collector ·

2026/05/22

Collector Conversations is a new feature at The Curious Collector, one that allows the listener to understand the lives, inspirations, and pursuits of so many different collectors across the world. Many just like you. For the first in this series, we turn to Catherine Peterson, the well-known collector who has been at the forefront of not only engagement, but contributions to the hobby and as a protector of cultural history. From her origins in California to today in South Carolina, collecting has

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95:37

Beyond The Shelf: The Art of Display

The Curious Collector ·

2026/05/12

Objects need more than ownership, they beg for presentation. The display of collections, while often overlooked, form an understanding and a deep context. in this episode of The Curious Collector, Theriault's President Stuart Holbrook shares his experiences with doll collectors across the world and reveals the techniques they use to help visualize the display as a vehicle of narrative. He discusses how a good display, regardless of style, can elevate your vision. We are all story tellers. A

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82:06

AI and The Curious Collector

The Curious Collector ·

2026/04/29

In this episode of The Curious Collector, Theriault's President Stuart Holbrook takes us on a journey of discovery into how artificial intelligence intersects with collecting. With that, posing questions throughout, is it friend or foe? Does it actually help collectors or instead guide them down dangerous paths? After months of research into this powerful tool, his insight can help collectors see clearly where the benefits are and where the dangers hide. Stuart gives both the Pros and the Cons,

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66:44

The Quiet Collectors: Inside the Secret Garden

The Curious Collector ·

2026/04/07

As a counter to Theriault's President Stuart Holbrook's previous episode on community and collecting, in this episode, he talks about an alternative approach, collecting done quietly and in the shadows. The forming of a “secret garden” if you will. These quiet collectors make up a significant proportion of enthusiasts out there but are often misunderstood. Stuart discusses why some choose this path over a more social and community approach and a few of the advantages of a private approach

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66:45

Collecting and Community

The Curious Collector ·

2026/03/16

Community is the heart of collecting. While the objects bring us joy, the friendships and bonds we gain within a hobby are the lasting benefits of a shared passion. In this episode of The Curious Collector, Theriault's President Stuart Holbrook offers his thoughts on how building community relates to becoming a better collector. He explores the amazing benefits to not only happiness within collecting but life in general as well. Communities are built in so many ways, and Stuart lays out where

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57:57

Documenting Your Collection

The Curious Collector ·

2026/02/26

Collectors preserve not just the items themselves but are also the protectors of their histories. Provenance is the path of an item and tells a vital story beyond the aesthetic. Yet, for collectors, while much of that history may be with them, sadly it often goes undocumented and is lost. In this episode of The Curious Collector, Theriault's President Stuart Holbrook discusses the myriad of benefits that come from documenting and cataloging your collection over time, as well as the importance

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70:57

A Conversation with Susan Wright of R. John Wright Dolls

The Curious Collector ·

2026/02/03

R. John and Susan Wright have for fifty years captured the imagination of doll collectors across the globe. From a humble start in the Wright home in Vermont, they would grow to become one of the most revered doll companies in modern times. During this period, they held true to their roots of painstaking design with each doll handmade locally. The fandom of R. John Wright Dolls grew to include exhibits in Japan, special clubs, and even an annual International Convention. On this 50th anniversary of

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62:20

“A Conversation with Dr. Shirley Mueller: Author of...

The Curious Collector ·

2026/01/13

Is there science behind the collector’s mind? There actually is. Dr. Shirley Mueller joins Theriault's President Stuart Holbrook for a conversation about her life. both as collector and neurologist, in uncovering just that. Dr. Mueller shares her own experiences and how they directly correlate with the mechanics of the brain that has been more recently studied through MRI’s and practical analysis. It’s a message of positivity and a wonderful opportunity for collectors to understand themselves

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52:28

Anyone Can Build a Great Collection

The Curious Collector ·

2026/01/06

Stuart Holbrook has spent decades as President of Theriault’s working with collectors around the world. In that time, he has learned valuable lessons from them in their collecting evolution. One of the most valuable is their willingness to share how they worked with just a modest income yet still managed over time to build world-class collections. With that, Stuart came to see that wealth is not always the pathway to a great collection. It can be built in other ways as well. In this episode, he

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68:39

The Heart of Collectors: My Year Across America

The Curious Collector ·

2025/12/29

Over the past year, Theriault’s President Stuart Holbrook traveled across America and Canada on a whirlwind lecture tour to over 60 doll clubs, both big and small. In this episode of The Curious Collector, he shares his experiences with many of the wonderful collectors he met, the funny stories behind many of these appearances and the positiveness of people with shared passions coming together as a community. It became a discovery not only of the collector's heart, but a story of America as

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56:04

A Conversation with Doll Artist Stephanie Blythe:...

The Curious Collector ·

2025/12/01

In this episode, Theriault's President Stuart Holbrook talks with Stephanie Blythe, who has been an integral part of the doll artist community for a generation. Her work, spanning over four decades, is testament to a time in which her experience offers us a glimpse into the early transformation of the doll being thought of as an art form. With this, she offers insight into an organization she holds dear, NIADA. Stephanie breaks down the past and the current mission of how NIADA preserves the

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75:38

Generally Excellent - Condition, Collectibles and The...

The Curious Collector ·

2025/11/20

In this episode of The Curious Collector, Theriault's President Stuart Holbrook provides his thoughts on how collectors assess condition and the grading of antiques which, in his belief, is and should always be subjective. He shares his approach in focusing on the positives first and the negatives as an adjunct. But, Stuart stresses that there is no uniform formula. Countless criteria affect a collector’s investigation of condition. It's always personal and varies from one genre to

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73:43

A Conversation With Ann Ryan: The Daughter of Jack...

The Curious Collector ·

2025/10/30

You think you know the story of Barbie. However, unless you are an insider to the real history you may not know the name, Jack Ryan. He is now being thought of as The Father of Barbie who ushered in her true coming to life as the most iconic doll in history. He was an engineer, designer and the genius behind every nuance and curve of a doll recognized around the world. His story is a fascinating one. Not just as an engineer of missile projects for the Pentagon who later found himself as Mattel’s

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63:55

Building Your Brand As a Collector

The Curious Collector ·

2025/10/18

Every collector is unique in their focus. With that, every collector has the opportunity to build a unique brand as to their particular passion. Whether broad or narrow there are opportunities in doing so. Theriault's President Stuart Holbrook shows us in this episode how your identity is essentially a brand that can work for you in building your collection as well as help to protect and educate the world of doll collecting on the particular genre you love the most. Further, he explores how it

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49:51

Why We Start Collecting

The Curious Collector ·

2025/10/10

In this episode, Theriault's President Stuart Holbrook, takes us into the origins of a collector’s heart and discusses some of the many reasons that collectors start collecting. That is, what was the trigger to it all? Using the collecting of dolls as one example, he takes his experiences at Theriault’s, and meeting collectors around the world over several decades, to unpack these recollections of the emotional and nostalgic reasons behind why we collect and continue collecting.Keep up with

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