Material Culture

Discover new creations weekly! Straight from our Philadelphia studio and workshop, explore our latest collection of upholstered furnishings, masterfully crafted with exquisite antique and vintage rugs, kilims, and textiles.

Visit us at our 4700 Wissahickon Avenue location. We're open 7 days a week!

Live Now! Browse & Bid online to view over 500 lots from our August Estates auction.

Public Exhibition: Aug 25 - 26, 11 am - 4 pm
Live Showroom Auction: Aug 27, 10 AM ET

Visit materialculture.com for more info.

Picture here (left to right): Antique English Bartley and Bligh Campaign Telescope. Lot 1. Chinese Famille Rose Porcelain Peach Vase. Lot 53. "Wild Zebras" Mixed Media Painting. Lot 340. Portuguese Painted Tile Panel Of St. Anthony's Miracle of the Fish. Lot 449. 6 Italian Baroque Style Candle Prickets. Lot 481.

Our live showroom auction for “International Textile Arts” is next Wednesday, July 31 11 AM ET. But you can Browse & Bid the over 300 lots online now. Visit materialculture.com for more info.

Pictured here (left to right): Vintage Pair of Tulis Batik Textiles, Indonesia. Lot 145. Vintage Tulis Batik Sarong Signed Hoo Je Kheng, Pekalongan, Indonesia. Lot 150. Mien Cross-Stitch Embroidered Pants, Northern Thailand, Mid 20th C. Lot 251. Uzbek Embroidery, Ca. 1900. Lot 92. Silk Wedding Shawl, Jain, Early-Mid 20th C. Lot 268. Signed Vintage Pekalongan Batik, North Coast, Java, Indonesia, 6'2'' x 3'5''. Lot 160. Pair of Balinese Embroidered Scenes, Mid 20th C. Lot 217. A Batik Depicting The Map of Indonesia, Mid/Late 20th C. Lot 170. Indian Phad Painting, Rajasthan, Early/Mid 20th C. Lot 281. Chinese Floral Silk Embroidery, Early/Mid 20th C. Lot11.

TODAY! Join us for our BBQ & Reception for our “Summer Estates” auction, noon to 4 pm at our 4700 Wissahickon Ave location. Browse & Bid now. See materialculture.com for more info.

Pictured here (left to right): George II Upholstered Wingback Armchair and Associated Foot Stool. Lot 112. Japanese 3-Piece Tansu. Lot 68. English Burl Wood Marble Top Wash Stand, 19th C. Lot 108. Mid-Century Modern Teak Lounge Chair. Lot 73. Antique French Gilt Bronze and Crystal 8-Light Chandelier. Lot 45.

For decades, Material Culture has sourced and sold antique Anglo-Indian furniture in our retail store, owing to its great popularity, home utility, and bench-made quality.

For the first time in our 30-year history, we are offering a container of this furniture at auction. This venture is an experiment to determine if the auction model is a viable method for marketing these items.

Live Showroom Auction: Wednesday, July, 17, 2024, 10AM ET
Public Exhibition: July 14, 15, 16, 11AM-4PM
Join us! Exhibition Reception & Outdoor Barbecue, Sunday, July 14, Noon to 4PM
Visit materialculture.com for more info.

Unlike contemporary alternatives made from engineered wood or plastic, this real wood furniture is longer-lasting, more sustainable, and arguably more beautiful. They can be easily repaired, sanded, repainted, or updated with new k***s and hardware. Like their traditional English and Irish models, these high-quality furniture pieces become heirloom items that adapt to each generation’s style, finding their place in contemporary interiors.

The slim depth of this furniture allows it to fit more easily into rooms and hallways that would not accommodate bulkier forms, making it ideal for smaller urban apartments. Lastly, instead of ending up in the junk pile like much contemporary furniture, antique Anglo-Indian furniture can always be resold and find new homes for continued, reliable service.

Pictured here (left to right): Antique Indian Paint Decorated Teak Mirrored Tall Cabinet, 73'' x 39'' x 20''. Lot 136. Antique Indian Paint Decorated Teak Tall Cabinet, 72'' x 19'' x 37''. Lot 141. Antique Indian Paint Decorated Teak Cabinet, 49'' x 31'' x 13''. Lot 132. Antique Indian Paint Decorated Teak Cabinet, 38'' x 30'' x 16''. Lot 178. Antique Indian Teak Hanging Cabinet, 23'' x 14'' x 6''. Lot 220. Antique Indian Teak Cabinet, 54'' x 19'' x 7''. Lot 212. Antique Indian Paint Decorated Teak Cabinet, 39'' x 36'' x 17''. Lot 171. Antique Indian Paint Decorated Teak Server Cabinet, 40'' x 62'' x 15''. Lot 209. Antique Indian Paint Decorated Teak Credenza Cabinet, 32'' x 51'' x 17''. Lot 193. Antique Indian Paint Decorated Teak Tall Cabinet, 78'' x 50'' x 18''. Lot 134.

The monks of Drepung Gomang Monastery in India return to Material Culture this July!

Please join us at our 4700 Wissahickon Avenue location from July 9 - 14 to witness their construction and dismantling of a sacred Tibetan Sand Mandala. Plus, on July 14 at noon, there will be a Tibetan Cultural Pageant with traditional dances, chants, and performances. All events are free and open to the public, with plenty of free parking.

During their stay with us, their lovely sacred crafts will also be offered for sale. The sale of these items and donations for their ceremonies and events go to funding the monastery in India.

More information on their visit can be found at:
https://materialculture.com/tibetan-sand-mandala/

Do you remember our restaurant?? Then you might also recognize Chef Aliza Green! Aliza will be returning for one day only for a very special author event in celebration of her latest cookbook, "Aruba's Papiamento Cuisine". Guests will enjoy samples of Bolo Preto cake (Aruban black cake) with passion fruit crème, and Peruvian chicha morada syrup.

Copies of the book will be available for $40 each.

Join us on Saturday, June 29th, from 2 PM to 3 PM. Free parking is available, and the event is open to the public at our 4700 Wissahickon Ave location!

It’s the final day of our two-day rug auction!

Day 2 is no less exciting as some colorful, graphic, and interesting examples of true textile art will be on offer, again presented in coherent groupings. It begins with a slew of ikats – complete ‘panels’ consisting of anything between four and six widths of woven silk ikat lengths sewn together to form these hangings often used as partitions or merely wall decoration in the traditional Uzbek’s home. Lots 416 and 419 might be considered the ‘stars’ of this group of nine, but all are in good condition with strong primary colors and designs of great visual impact. And for those with limited space who want merely an example of strong textile art on the wall to complement their decor, lot 432 consists of three well-chosen framed smaller ikat fragments from Central Asia.

Browse & Bid Now: materialculture.com/fine-antique-rugs-and-textile-arts-2/

Day One of our Live Showroom Auction kicks off today at 11 am! The auction continues in a similar vein with equally minimalist, sparsely ornamented weavings. Striped jajims from Persia, specifically the Mazandaran area, are featured, a group only recently “discovered” by European dealers able to visit Iran. The next group of weavings includes colorful tribal rugs and bags from Persia, with an outstanding Afshar bag face (lot 102, pictured here). Others of note include a very elaborately patterned Ferahan Sarouk prayer rug, an exceptional weaving featuring animal life with vegetation evocative of the classical Persian rug design pool – confronting birds peering back over their shoulders astride a pot of meandering vines and flowers coupled with conical shaped cypress trees reminiscent of Baktiari drawing.

Browse & Bid Now: materialculture.com/fine-antique-rugs-and-textile-arts-2/

Today, join us for a public reception and gallery walkthrough of our June auction with author James Opie, noon to 4 pm at 4700 Wissahickon Ave.

Browse & Bid Now: materialculture.com/fine-antique-rugs-and-textile-arts-2/

Live Showroom Auction: June 17 - 18

Pictured: The Wertime Collection offerings conclude with a very atypically designed lot 62, a Baluch rug from Northeast Persia with vertical stripes containing unusual repeating motifs resembling a plant. With no border systems enclosing the field design, the minimalist aspect of design accentuated by the limited range of color is apparent. Wertime was one of the very few western dealers who lived ‘in situ’ for some years and was fluent in any of the spoken languages – in his case, Persian. His language skills translated directly to his ability to think ‘with’ some of the women responsible for producing some of the rugs and textiles in this auction or, at the very least, allowed him greater sensitivity and insights that few of us in the West could ever imagine and likely will never fully understand.

Minimalism as a decorative characteristic is especially soothing to the eyes, and Wertime’s fascination with this angle on collecting stands in stark contrast to his other work in the field with Persian tribal bags (especially sumacs with elaborately intricate designs with saturated colors) coupled with a love for (if not extensive experience with) rugs and textiles from Central Asia. An unusually graphic ‘jajim’ or flat woven cover attributed to the Uzbeks stands alone here (lot 49, pictured here). Curiously included in the minimalism is an intricately patterned Anatolian çicim with repeating rams horn (or kotchanak devices with rams horns top and bottom, a fertility symbol, lot 61, pictured here) in white on a subtly dyed madder red ground. The supplementary technique of applying the design to the red ground is another structural type that Wertime found interesting. A stickler for structure, this aspect of his approach to collecting is out of the casual reach of most collectors, as well as dealers too.

Browse & Bid Now: materialculture.com/fine-antique-rugs-and-textile-arts-2/
Public Reception and Walkthrough with James Opie (author of “Tribal Rugs: Nomadic and Village Weavings from the Near East and Central Asia”): Sunday, June 16, noon to 4 pm
Live Showroom Auction: June 17 - 18

Our June auction continues with ‘Tulu’ rugs (long pile sleeping rugs, lot 14, pictured here) from central Anatolia, woven with a pile looping technique more familiar to collectors of traditional rugs and the less well-known cirpi/kilims (lot 40) also with completely saturated colors applied to brilliant, lustrous wool. Also included are equally minimalist in terms of color true flat weaves, including Shahsevan striped kilims (lot 9, pictured here), and an unusually plain west Persian sofreh kilim of all natural, undyed wool too (lot 12, pictured here).

Browse & Bid Now: materialculture.com/fine-antique-rugs-and-textile-arts-2/
Public Reception and Walkthrough with James Opie (author of “Tribal Rugs: Nomadic and Village Weavings from the Near East and Central Asia”): Sunday, June 16, noon to 4 pm
Live Showroom Auction: June 17 - 18

Two-day auction featuring the John T. Wertime Collection with Other Fine Estates and Private Collections! 26 years ago, John Wertime’s article featuring a portion of his extensive collection appeared in HALI, “Back to Basics: Primitive Pile Rugs of West & Central Asia.” While focused on structural characteristics and technique, the visuals captured their readers. That article featured chosen examples from Anatolia east through Persia, Afghanistan, and Central Asia, only a small segment of his expansive collection featured in our auction.

The auction begins with a rather unusual Shahsevan bag (Lot 1, pictured here) – a design executed in natural brown wool and an undyed, unbleached ivory ground. More commonly thought of as a source for colorful flat-woven kilims and bags, in stark contrast, the undyed fiber of natural brown and white contributes to a rare and visually powerful composition. Similarly, the Siirt area “mohair” kilims (Lot 2, also pictured) represent an exercise in natural wool used to great advantage. Though made with pile, referring to them as kilims is accurate. Rather than knotted, the pile-like effect is the result of combing out the warps of natural brown and cream-colored wool to create the appearance and feel of a pile rug. The technique is likely centuries older than these examples from the Wertime Collection, but the result is likely quite similar to what tribeswomen in the borderlands of southeast Anatolia and Persia made in the distant past.

Browse & Bid Now: materialculture.com/fine-antique-rugs-and-textile-arts-2/
Public Reception and Walkthrough with James Opie (author of “Tribal Rugs: Nomadic and Village Weavings from the Near East and Central Asia”): Sunday, June 16, noon to 4 pm
Live Showroom Auction: June 17 - 18

We are hiring! Material Culture seeks a skilled and experience Upholsterer with a specialty in working with antique textiles.

Find job details and how to apply at:

https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=d55ac7d9ea6cac8f

Our latest auction features over 300 oriental rugs with some surprisingly tempting starting bids. The live showroom auction kicks off Wednesday, May 29 at 11 am. Browse & Bid now at materialculture.com/rugs-65

Pictured left to right: Lot 17: Aubusson Tapestry, France, Ca. 1900, 3'2'' x 9'9''. Lot 106: Pair of Attached Identical Twin Turkish Rugs, Mid 20th C., 3'8'' x 10'5'. Lot 117: Yomud Main Rug, Turkmenistan, Early 20th C., 6'3'' x 10'7''. Lot 11: Khotan Rug, East Turkestan, Early 20th C., 4'0'' x 5'9''. Lot 133B: Kerman Prayer Rug, Persia, Late 19th C., 4'2'' x 6'2''. Lot 1: Fine Art Deco Oval Rug, China, Ca. 1930, 2'6'' x 4'5'.

Check out our team's picks from this weekend's auction! And be sure to join us for the reception TODAY, Sunday April 28, noon to 4 pm.

More info:

https://materialculture.com/art-24/

Pictured left to right: Jacques Geslin (Haitian, b. 1954) "Love Birds". Lot 155. Maqbool Fida Husain (1915-2011) "Horses". Lot 256. Richard Fiscus (1926-2006) "Landscape with House". Lot 370. Robert Riggs (1896-1970) "Captain of a String Band". Lot 466. Francis C. Tucker (1931-2012) "Moon Rising". Lot 377. Violet Oakley (American, 1874-1961) Fresco Panel. Lot 385. Dox Thrash (1893-1965) "Inveigling". Lot 409. Kawase Hasui (Japanese, 1883-1957) "Chion Temple". Lot 445. Christopher Shearer (1840-1926) "Morning Fog Over The Lake". Lot 464. Lenoid Gechtoff (1883-1941) "Western Winter Landscape". Lot 478.

More than just painting. Sculptures, too! Browse & Bid 516 lots in our "Fine Folk Outside" auction, live now at auctions.materialculture.com.

Plus, see it in person during our public exhibition April 26 - 28, or join us for the public reception this Sunday noon to 4 pm for refreshments, live painting by notable Haitian artists Frantz Zephirin, and a gallery talk with prominent Haitian art collector Glenn Stokes. More info at materialculture.com/art-24.

A stunning exhibition of Outsider Art is now on display at our newly revamped Material Culture space at 4700 Wissahickon Ave. Paintings by notable Haitian artists, early works by filmmaker David Lynch, sculptures, and more: all of it can be viewed in person through April 28. Join us for refreshments and a public reception, along with live painting and a gallery talk, this Sunday!

More info:

https://materialculture.com/art-24/

Thank you to Live Auctioneers for highlighting some of the exciting work we have available in our "Fine Folk Outsider" no-reserve auction. Read on for details on works by Hector Hyppolite, ‘Grand Maître of Haitian Art', Edger Jean-Baptiste, and filmmaker David Lynch.

Outsider art gets the spotlight at Material Culture April 29 PHILADELPHIA — Set as a no-reserve auction, Material Culture brings more than 500 lots of Outsider art to the block Monday, April 29 with Fine Folk

516 lots offer a breathtaking riot of color and life. Browse & Bid our "Fine Folk Outsider" auction, live now at auctions.materialculture.com. More info at materialculture.com/art-24.

Pictured left to right: Joseph Dawley (American, 1936-2008) "Tennis at Shoreham". Lot 362. B. Caprile (Italian, 19th C.) Interior Scene. Lot 503. Harry Jacques (Haitian, b. 1937) "Cazale". Lot 97. L. Louissaint (Haitian, 20th c.) "Village Scene". Lot 99. Jean Adrien Seide (Haitian, b.1956) "Landscape". Lot 90. Frederick D. Ogden (1892-1948) "Snowy Winter Landscape". Lot 335.

Join us for live painting with special guest visiting artist Frantz Zephirin. One of the most recognizable contemporary visionary Haitian painters working today, as a toddler he watched his uncle, the painter Antoine Obin, as he worked. By the age of 7, Frantz was making his own paintings of colonial homes that line Cap-Haitien’s coast. Swiftly diverging from the traditional Cap Haitian style, Zephirin developed a highly original approach, infusing his art with themes ranging from politics to social dynamics and Vodou spirituality. Learn more at materialculture.com/art-24.

Pictured left to right: Frantz Zephirin (b. 1968) "Sharks and People in the Water". Lot 85. Frantz Zephirin (b. 1968) "Worshipping the Sun Gods". Lot 86. Frantz Zephirin (b. 1968) "Natives Fishing With Net". Lot 87. Browse & Bid now at auctions.materialculture.com.

Prepare yourself for a visual feast. Our "Fine Folk Outsider" auction is now on display at Material Culture.

516 Lots include an impressive selection of work by Haitian artists. View these pieces in person at our public exhibition April 26 - 28. Or join us this Sunday for the public reception with refreshments, live painting by notable Haitian artist Frantz Zephirin, and a gallery talk by prominent collector of Haitian art, Glenn Stokes.

More info at materialculture.com/art-24
or Browse & Bid now at auctions.materialculture.com

Pictured left to right: Henri Calixte (1933-2010) "Au Pipirite Chantant". Lot 71. Andre Pierre (Haitian/Port-au-Prince, 1916-2005). Lot 80. Gesner Armand (Haitian, 1936-2008) "Still Life". Lot 104. Jn. Joseph (Haitian, 20th c.) "Jungle Landscape". Lot 184. Ernst Louizor (Haitian, 1938-2011) "Market at Port". Lot 190. Haitian Artist (20th c.) "Rural Houses". Lot 200.

Spring Forward! Day Two brings us 437 Lots of textile & decorative arts, garden & architectural elements, curios, collectibles, and more! Join us opening day for mezze refreshments and an outdoor BBQ Saturday, April 13, noon to 4 pm. Or Browse & Bid online now at:
https://materialculture.com/auctions/upcoming-auctions/

Pictured (left to right): Antique Chinese Carved Stone Square Lotus Column Base Size: 16'' x 18'' x 18''. Lot 956. Antique Continental Pictorial Tapestry, 17th/18th C., wool. Lot 581. 2 Antique Indian Mughal Copper and Brass Circular Pandan Lidded Boxes. Lot 909. Collector's Lot of European Objet D'Art, 18th-19th C. Lot 893. Antique Armenian Silk and Metal Embroidered Velvet Textile. Lot 672. 5 Vintage Spirit Houses, Thailand, Late 20th C. Lot 1009. Turkmen Gilt Silver Yomut Gulyaka Pendant. Size: 4.5'' x 4.5'' (11 x 11 cm). Together with a Talisman Pendant on Chain. Size: 2.5'' x 3''. Lot 814.

It’s a two-day showroom auction extravaganza from Material Culture! The starting bids are low and the inventory is high! Browse 575 lots of field findings and warehouse excavations, including art, antiques, furnishings, ethnographic & folk art, decorative art, found objects, curios, and collectibles. And that's only Part One! Join us opening day for mezze refreshments and an outdoor BBQ Saturday, April 13, noon to 4 pm. Or Browse & Bid online now at https://materialculture.com/auctions/upcoming-auctions/.

Pictured here left to right: Japanese Lacquered Screen, Early 20th C. Lot 541. Modern Red Metal Bar Counter. Lot 182. Antique Chinese Two-Tone Cabinet, 19th C. Lot 236. African Fine Art Sculpture by Agbagli Kossi (1935-1991). Lot 453. Vintage Life-Size Woven Wicker Rattan Green Vespa Scooter Trade Sign. Lot 10. Nate Barrow (American, 20th C.), Chicken. Lot 398. Vintage Mandalay Seated Buddha. Lot 78. Antique Indian Palanquin Sedan Chair. Lot 282. Antique Indian Carved Teak Silver and Gold Paint Decorated Door. Lot 149. Antique Chinese Curio Company Advertisement in English. Lot 364.

HOT ITEM: 16 Bids so far on this Kurd Kazak Rug from the Transcaucasus region, circa 1875!! The Transcaucasus has a rich history of rug weaving dating back centuries. Prized for their superior craftsmanship, Kurdish rugs in particular are known for their distinctive designs and color palettes, often featuring geometric patterns and bold, vibrant colors. This rug would make an excellent addition to any collection! Browse & Bid online now at auctions.materialculture.com.
Pictured here: Kurd Kazak Rug, Transcaucasus, Ca. 1875, 4'6'' x 6'3'' (137 x 191 cm). Weight: 11 lbs. Material: wool pile, wool warp, wool weft. Lot 61.

View of Lot 172 in our current auction, Oriental Rugs from American Estates: a Fine Ziegler Sultanabad Rug, Persia, Ca. 1890, 16'10'' x 17'3''. Here, it's pictured giving life and beauty to a Manhattan, NY Estate.

Browse & Bid online at:

https://auctions.materialculture.com/auction-lot/fine-ziegler-sultanabad-rug-persia-ca-1890-1610-x_9654360AD5

Browse 432 lots from our stunning auction, Oriental Rugs from American Estates. Bid online now at auctions.materialculture.com. Or view this breathtaking collection in person at our public exhibition March 24 - 26 (with a reception noon to 4 pm Sunday) at Material Culture, 4700 Wissahickon Ave in Philadelphia. The live showroom auction will take place Wednesday, March 27, 10 am ET.

Pictured here (left to right): Dhurrie Rug, India, Early 20th C., 10'10'' x 15'10''. Lot 5. Fine Malayer Boteh Rug, Persia, Ca. 1900, 3'6'' x 4'9''. Lot 309. Swimming Fish Rug, India, Late 20th C., 4'2'' x 6'1'' Lot 419. Kazak Rug, Transcaucasus, Early 20th C., 4'5'' x 6'5''. Lot 68. Gabbeh Rug, Persia, Dated 1318 (Ca. 1901), 3'8'' x 7'0''. Lot 43. Suzani, Uzbekistan, Mid 20th C., 5'2'' x 7'6'. Lot 417. Peking Rug, China, Late 19th C., 5'11'' x 8'7''. Lot 149A.

🐉 Explore the intricate world of Chinese Silk Embroidered Textiles from the 19th century! These remarkable pieces, four in total and each measuring 16'' x 13.5'', are a testament to the elegance of the Qing Dynasty.
🧵 Immerse yourself in the detailed craftsmanship of silk and metallic-thread embroidery, showcasing magnificent dragons soaring amidst stylized clouds and auspicious emblems. The lishui stripe below adds an extra layer of sophistication to these masterpieces.
🏛️ From the esteemed Collection of Brooke and Dov Jaron in Philadelphia, PA. Their legacy breathes life into these pieces, connecting us to a bygone era. Lot # 232. Current Bid: $600.
✨ Your journey into the past awaits! Browse & Bid online now at auctions.materialculture.com. The live showroom auction commences Thursday, February 29, 10 am ET at our Philadelphia location at 4700 Wissahickon Avenue.

This remarkable Inuit-Made Catholic Altarpiece from early 20th-century Alaska measures 17'' x 19'' x 9'' and carries a unique journey embedded in its intricate details. 🛷❄️
Period church and family records reveal that this masterpiece was once transported by dog sleds, traversing villages under the care of dedicated missionaries. Imagine the awe-inspiring scenes as this altarpiece graced different corners of Alaska. Its provenance is equally captivating, as it found its way back to Philadelphia through the hands of missionary Father Edmund A. Anable, S.J. (1903-1992). This precious piece was then graciously presented to Miss Agnes Hastings, a generous supporter of Father Anable's missionary work in Alaska. Passed down through the Hastings family, this altarpiece now holds stories of resilience and cultural exchange. Lot # 175. Current Bid: $350.
Browse & Bid online now at auctions.materialculture.com. The live showroom auction commences Thursday, February 29, 10 am ET at our Philadelphia location at 4700 Wissahickon Avenue.