Material Culture
4700 Wissahickon Avenue Suite 101, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19144
215-849-8030
About Auction House
Material Culture has always believed that art—in the fullest sense—is for everyone, and aims to make participation in the auction business easier and more accessible to a wide spectrum of the public, for the convenience of the local community, and to the benefit of collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.Auction Previews & News
15 Results
Auction PreviewInternational Ethnographic Arts
Available in the upcoming International Ethnographic Arts sale is a standing Buddha stone statue from the Northern Qi Dynasty. A 15th-century stone-carved qilin will also feature in this Material Culture sale. Seen mostly near entryways and in other noticeable areas, each mythological qilin is said to live for 2,000 years. In many African cultures, the figure of Mami Wata is known as a half-aquatic and half-human deity. She represents the conflicting nature of water. Both an important means of providing communication, food, drink, and trade, water can also drown people, flood fields or villages, and provide passage to intruders. A Mami Wata figure reflecting those opposing concepts is offered in this auction. Often passed from mother to daughter or given as part of a dowry, coral has long been considered a prized material in the Himalayan region. In Tibetan culture, red coral is considered an effective amulet for giving protection and warding off misfortune. A Tibetan brass, turquoise, and coral bead necklace is available in this auction. Also offered are two Balinese songket textiles. These hand-woven cloths are made of silk and metal-wrapped threads. To view the mentioned lots and others, visit Invaluable.
Auction PreviewOriental Rugs from American Estates | 40
Oriental rugs are heavy carpets often made of silk, wool, and cotton. These are used for both utilitarian and decorative purposes. The carpets have been produced across regions sometimes known as the “Rug Belt,” including northern China, Tibet, Turkey, Iran, the Caucasus, India, and Pakistan. Some of the leading lots in the upcoming Oriental Rugs from American Estates auction, to be presented by Material Culture, were produced in these regions. One of the highlights is a late 19th-century Persian Serapi rug, made of pile wool, cotton warp, and weft threads. Another highlight is a Caucasian Sumak rug from the early 20th century. Sumak is a tapestry technique of flat weaving, yielding a smooth front and a ragged back. Another lot of interest is a prayer rug from Ghiordes, a northwest town in Turkey. Historically, Ghiordes prayer rugs have been held in high esteem in the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. To view the complete catalog for this auction and register to bid online, visit Invaluable.
Auction PreviewFine Decorative and Collectible Antique Oriental Rugs
Material Culture presents a selection of decorative antique rugs in the upcoming auction. The featured lots come from areas such as Persia, Caucasus, Turkey, India, and China. Persian rugs and tapestries are particularly highlighted. One such item is a Farahan Sarouk rug from the 1890s. Farahan rugs come from a city in western Iran that is known for its subtle medallion motifs. In addition, the collection features pieces from the West, including a Navajo rug and a 16th-century Flemish tapestry. The latter piece depicts a scene with wooden houses and lions, storks and wild animals. Also included in the auction is a silk rug from Turkey. The auction house estimates that the rug has nearly 8,000,000 knots, likely created over the span of 1,552 days with more than 5,000 knots per day. For more information on these items or to place a bid, visit Invaluable.
Auction PreviewAncient, Ethnographic & Tribal Arts
The ancient inhabitants of Nayarit were proficient in ceramics. At that time, pottery became a visual method of expression to pass on religious, philosophical, and astronomical knowledge. Several pieces of ancient Nayarit pottery from 200 BCE to 200 CE will be showcased in the upcoming Ancient, Ethnographic & Tribal Arts Auction, offered by Material Culture. Included in the collection are pre-Columbian Nayarit pottery pieces depicting standing female and male figures. Ceramic works from the Late Preclassic period include not only decorated vessels but also large and small figurines of humans, animals, and other creatures. Along with the Nayarit works, the auction also presents pottery figures from Jalisco. One key lot depicts a man playing the flute. Another highlighted work is a stone anthropic Cohoba stand from Taíno (c. 1000-1500 CE). The ancient Taíno people developed different artistic traditions using bone, shell, stone, wood, and other mediums. To bid for the above-mentioned items and more, visit Invaluable.
Auction PreviewJanuary Online Estates
Damian Msagula sold fruits and vegetables when he first met the Tingatinga artists in Tanzania. In 1973, Msagula joined those artists and started painting. Msagula eventually developed his own artistic style. A balance of colors was important to him, particularly when making his own pigments from plants. His paintings are centered around African culture, making Msagula a central figure in Tanzania's art scene. Numerous paintings by the artist will be offered in the upcoming January Online Estates auction, presented by Material Culture. Among other lots, Ian Ingersoll's dining table is among the highlights of the sale. Ingersoll, a renowned cabinetmaker from West Cornwall, is known for his Shaker furniture. His pieces traditionally follow a simple, practical, and easily-adaptable form. Also featured in the sale is a ribbon pendant light chandelier by Max Sauze. Known for his simple yet bold designs, Sauze’s lighting fixtures are handcrafted in France. Rounding out the collection is a vintage Chinese folding screen depicting flora and fauna. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Invaluable.
Auction PreviewOriental Rugs from American Estates
Serapi rugs entered the market in the early 19th century. Known for their strength and durability, Serapi rugs were weaved with silky wool that gave them a smooth, alluring texture. These rugs typically focus on details: floral patterns, diamonds, curvilinear lines, and medallions are common patterns. An antique Persian Serapi rug is featured in the upcoming Oriental Rugs from American Estates auction, presented by Material Culture. The rug has a dark red color with one large border of alternating red and blue flowers. Several other types of rugs are also highlighted in the sale, including an antique Heriz rug. Slightly more coarse than Serapi rugs, Heriz rugs have similar floral patterns. The presented lot has a light blue base color with a dark blue border. Among the featured lots is a large Chinese blue and pink Peking rug featuring a central medallion design and an outer band of naturalist patterns. An antique Oushak rug with subtle shading in salmon, pink, and blue and an oversized Bakhtiari rug will be on offer as well. Antique Kerman, Indo-Chinese, and Moroccan rugs are also included in the sale. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Invaluable.
Auction Preview4 Artists | Gibson, Bloom, Colin, Gerber
Illinois artist George Colin was known for his rural farm scenes and landscapes, each piece painted with vibrant colors. Retired from his day job as a flour mill worker, he dedicated the rest of his life to art. Working on paintings and drawings, he assembled a collection of over 7,000 art pieces and was later "discovered" by a Chicago photographer in the mid-1980s. Eventually, Colin’s works found their way to galleries across the country, including the Smithsonian and the American Folk Art Museum in New York City. A number of his works, including four woodblock prints, will be available in the Four Artists Auction presented by Material Culture. This auction will display artworks of four American artists—George Colin, Sybil Gibson, Jim Bloom, and Jack Gerber. Another highlight of the sale is a set of twelve paintings titled Twelve Pastels by Sybil Gibson. Her works mainly include figurative images of dream-like faces, young girls, birds, and florals. Also featured in the auction are seven paintings by Pennsylvanian artist, Jim Bloom. He incorporates expressionism into his artworks, mostly relating them to his own experiences with human interaction, relationships, and society. To browse the complete catalog of this auction and register to bid, visit Invaluable.
Auction PreviewDECEMBER ESTATES
Indian artist B. Prabha was known for her elongated figures of rural women, each painting executed in a single dominant color. Inspired by Amrita Sher-Gil, she entered the art world at a time when India had few women artists. Working mainly in oil, she was one of the most prolific and critically acclaimed artists of her generation. In the December Estates Auction presented by Material Culture, one of her works, Musician Ladies, will be available. Painted in 1984, the piece depicts three female musicians with Prabha’s signature. This auction will also include rugs, antiques, fine and decorative art, and other international pieces. A highlight of the sale is a 19th century Russian icon of the Theotokos, or Mother of God. This piece shows her enthroned with John, the archangels, and attendant saints. Also featured in the auction is Figura de Nino (Figure of a Boy) by prominent Argentinian artist Antonio Berni. Additional lots include an antique Oushak rug and an Isparta rug, both from Turkey. A Sino-Tibetan bronze figure of Vajrapani and a 1968 Stephen Powers hand-painted pinball machine will be available as well. To browse the complete catalog for this auction and register to bid, visit Bidsquare.
Auction PreviewOriental Rugs from American Estates
Many antique rugs from countries such as Persia, France, Turkey, India, and China are featured in the upcoming Oriental Rugs from American Estates auction offered by Material Culture. Several Navajo rugs and tapestries will be available as well. From West African flatweave to early 20th century Chinese Art Deco, these rugs have been handed down from generation to generation. Featured in this auction is a 12-foot by 23-foot antique Sultanabad Persian rug. Made in Iran, this rug is decorated with a floral pattern. A Mudjur prayer rug from Turkey shows a red building with a background of blue, red, and tan. Also included in the auction is a French Savonnerie rug. This light-colored piece has a yellow flower in the center surrounded by a lavender floral pattern. Other items include Flemish tapestries and Kashmir shawls. To view the entire collection, visit Invaluable today.
Auction PreviewApsara Arts of Asia
Textiles and clothing can reveal much about a culture, from its values to its art. In the upcoming Apsara Arts of Asia auction offered by Material Culture, textiles, jewelry, and accessories from cultures across Asia will be available. From the collection of a single owner, this sale includes stone carvings, scroll paintings, tapestries, garments, and more. Ethnographic and Indigenous art is particularly highlighted. Of interest in this auction is a standing Chinese Buddha statue, dating back to the 6th century. This sculpture from the Northern Qi dynasty stands at over three feet tall, retaining traces of both pigment and gilt. An antique scroll painting from Korea also bears the cultural and religious meaning, depicting Buddha and various celestial beings. The majority of this auction is comprised of textiles from the East. These pieces range from everyday clothing items to ceremonial wraps and sarongs, on auction both separately and in related groups. Detailed silk weavings from Bali, a ceremonial jacket from China’s Akha people, and various Indonesian skirts will also cross the auction block. Asian and ethnographic jewelry and masks stand out in this auction, made from silver, shells, and beads. Antique wood carvings, embroidered tapestries, and various works of decorative art complete the sale. View the full catalog and register for online bidding on Bidsquare.
Auction PreviewArt 360 |Fine, Folk, Outsider, & Ethnographic Art
One of the controversies that surrounded Indian painter M.F. Husain was his nude paintings of Hindu gods. In the Fine, Folk, Outsider, & Ethnographic Art Auction, presented by Material Culture, several pieces exemplify Husain's embrace of the taboo. This includes his watercolor painting "Man and Yellow Woman with Snake in Pot". A naked man and woman stand ankle-deep in water. The painting's only two colors, a warm yellow and red, focus the viewer's eyes on the naked woman and the implied intercourse. The Fine, Folk, Outsider, & Ethnographic Art auction's lots bring together fine and decorative art from numerous countries and noteworthy artists such as Pablo Picasso. Forbes referred to M.F. Hussain as the Picasso of India, a title that stuck for the rest of his life. It is fitting, then, that this auction also has several pieces by Pablo Picasso himself. Among which is "Le Couvent" or "The Convent". The piece was produced in 1910, just as Picasso and Georges Braque were beginning the Cubist movement. "Le Couvent" displays the geometric qualities associated with Cubism. Bidders should note that the piece is unframed and not signed by Picasso. The piece with the highest estimated value in this auction is Ram Kumar's untitled abstract composition. Kumar was a colleague of M.F. Hussain and was considered to be one of the first Indian abstract artists. The yellow and red colors are disrupted by the jagged brown lines in the middle of the composition. Those interested in any of these lots can register to bid and view each lot on Bidsquare.
Auction PreviewFine & Collectible Antique Oriental Rugs
Material Culture is offering beautiful and well-made rugs of all shapes and sizes in it’s Fine Decorative & Collectible Antique Oriental Rugs Auction. Highlighted in the action are an antique palace-sized Serapi rug, and an antique mansion-sized Heriz rug, both from Persia. Made in the 19th century, the red and blue floral-patterned Serapi rug (16’2” x 21’4”) weighs 190 pounds. The Heriz rug (13’2” x 18”6”) also features a red and blue floral pattern and weighs 125 pounds. These beautiful rugs can complete any setting, are durable, and can last for generations making them great heirlooms. Other items showcased include an antique Oushak rug and a Ghiordes rug, both from Turkey. An antique Navajo rug, a Kashmir shawl from India, and many more are also available. To view the whole collection and to place a bid, visit Invaluable today.
Auction PreviewOriental Rugs from American Estates
The Oriental Rugs from American Estates auction, offered by Material Culture, is a collection of textile works made up almost entirely of rugs. Though, there are a few other unusual textile items of note in the sale. Among the most valuable pieces up for bid is an antique silk dragon rug from China. The stylized mythological figures in this colorful showpiece appear to be at odds, breathing fire at one another in a close battle. Another stunning work is an Antique Isfahan pictorial rug. Isfahan is a city in Iran located 252 miles south of Tehran. The rug itself depicts both humans and animals, and perhaps most notably an illustration of a woman being carried away by a bird. One of the more unusual items is a Persian nomadic tend band, which is embroidered with many figures and shapes. This band would have been used to reinforce and decorate the interior vertical sidewalls of a tent or “yurt.” The ends of the band are further adorned with tassels. The tent-decorating traditions of the nomadic tribes are thought to have originated in Uzbek tradition. View any of these lots and register to bid at Invaluable.
Auction PreviewTribal, Folk, Ethnographic & Textile Arts
Material Culture is here to offer treasures from the 18th and 20th centuries. Along with the Asian art and antique sale, Material Culture will present important tribal, folk, ethnographic and textile arts. This auction is led by an important textile art ever showcased in this catalog; Bolivian Aksu Textile which has always been a creative outlet for the Aymara and Quechua Indians in the South American Andes. Added to the collection, from the 19th century, is a bronze sculpture of flute playing Hindu deity Krishna. Amidst the 20th-century items are silver earrings from Himachal Pradesh commonly known as ‘Bali', Indian folk-art pictorial tapestry, and fine handwoven ceremonial cloth from Bhutan. To find more about the lots, visit Material Culture.
Auction PreviewStraight Up | American Outsider Art | No Reserves
Art has the unfortunate tendency of becoming exclusive, blocking those who run against established standards. It is then a creative triumph when counterculture receives attention and respect. Straight Up | American Outsider Art | No Reserves is offered by Material Culture, and gives outsiders that opportunity for appreciation. Starting bids extend from $20 to $500, bringing these works into reach for a wide range of collectors. The artists featured in this auction were mostly self-taught and all unconventional. Jimmy Lee Sudduth’s “Double-sided Painting” was painted with his fingers, for example, and David Butler’s tin cutouts were displayed in his front yard. By examining the accepted rules and then breaking them, these artists deliver entirely raw, unrestrained material. Folk paintings from Clementine Hunter and Bessie Harvey speak to the experience of low-income African Americans, without regard to official culture. Corrugated metal paintings from Mary Tillman Smith mirror Purvis Young’s mixed media projects on found materials. This auction also highlights the imaginative work of Jon Serl, Sybil Gibson, and Mose Tolliver. No individual artist can represent them all, but Howard Finster’s “Coke Bottle” shows the key foundation of this auction: art that is unafraid to turn everything we know upside-down. Preview all works and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
