S2 Ep 04: Clutter and Collecting: The Hidden History of Stuff
Ours to Keep? In this emotionally raw episode of It's History for F***'s Sake, host Sarah Dowd sits down with Clarissa Levi, inheritance tax lawyer, former Sotheby's specialist, and someone with rare double vision into objects, families, and loss.Together, they unpack why we collect, why inherited things mean so much (sometimes too much), and how the late 18th century turned possessions into identity. They trace the rise of consumerism, the baby boomer stuff-boom, and why a teacup can become a sibling battleground alongside the cultural moment that made Marie Kondo a global phenomenon.Expect grief, nostalgia, the messy reality of inheritance law, and hard-won advice for planning ahead without leaving traps for your heirs.If you've ever had to grieve with a cardboard box, this one's for you.Here are the highlights:00:00 Marie Kondo’s “tidying” revolution and what decluttering means when it isn’t your stuff02:12 Meet Clarissa Levi, an inheritance tax lawyer and former Sotheby’s specialist 05:13 How grief and loss shape our attachments09:46 The rise of collecting as status, identity, and a postwar Western obsession13:08 Why letting go is hard and finding better ways to pass things on18:18 The complicated joy (and obsession) behind collecting24:08 Gender, inheritance, and the “emotional labour” of family history28:10 How industrialisation created a world drowning in stuff29:00 The double-edged sword of inheriting privilege:36:46 The biggest myth: Stuff equals love 41:15 Make a will, don’t set traps for your family, have the hard conversations, and please, sort your diaries45:55 Whether you’re a duke or an academic, it’s all the same mess in the end47:16 What story will your stuff tell, and to whom?About Clarissa Levi:Clarissa is a highly experienced art lawyer and heritage practitioner at law firm Wedlake Bell. She has spent much of her career working in the commercial art world, advising on tax planning and cultural heritage. Her expertise includes estate planning, philanthropy and accessing tax incentives for heritage property. She advises on all aspects of the ownership of art, including acquisitions and disposals, as well as advising on the UK’s export controls for cultural objects. Clarissa advises museums and institutions, buyers, sellers, collectors, industry professionals and the heritage sector. Clarissa worked at Sotheby’s for over a decade, where she was a Senior Director in Tax & Heritage, before joining BHL Art Group, where she was heritage director.Connect with Clarissa Levi:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarissa-levi-a6598419b/About Sarah Dowd: I’m Sarah Dowd - writer, speaker, heritage and arts consultant, producer, and all-around nerd - here to share the stories of our past that make us laugh, gasp, and mutter: It’s History… For F***k’s Sake.For 25+ years I’ve created immersive, inclusive experiences that bring history alive, from rallying Second World War convoys through London to staging performances between Pearly Kings and Gen Z creatives. My work spans museums, cathedral crypts, pop-up theatres, global brands, and community projects across the UK and beyond.As a Canadian living between the UK and France (with a late ADHD diagnosis that fuels my curiosity and creativity), I zigzag through culture, history, and big ideas, but never boring ones.Every week on HistoryFFS, we explore how history echoes through today, make sure you are following the show so you don’t miss an episode.Connect with Sarah:Website: www.historyffs.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahdowd/https://www.linkedin.com/company/historyffs-pod/ Substack: @historyffsYouTube: @HistoryFFSPod Instagram: @historyFFSPodTikTok: @historyffspodX: @HistoryFFSPod Bluesky: @historyffs.bsky.social
