material culture
SEEKING QUALITY CONSIGNMENTS
ETHNOGRAPHIC, ASIAN, ANCIENT ART
FINE, FOLK, OUTSIDER ART
ORIENTAL RUGS & TEXTILE ARTS
Asian Arts
Antique Indian Mughal Enamel and Jeweled Dragon Bracelet Sold for $6080
Pair of Chinese Jeweled Gilt Bronze Foo Dogs Sold for $143,750
Four Blue and White Porcelain Chalices, Ming Dynasty. Sold for $16,250
18th C. Chinese Enamel Cup and Saucer Sold for $10,625
Pair Chinese Kangxi Blue & White Porcelain Vases, Qing Dynasty Sold for $28,160
Antique Tibetan Book of Astrology and Omens Sold for $8125
The Masnavi by Rumi, Dated 1604 CE. Sold for $14,080
Fine Boxwood Articulated Dragon/Ryu, Japan, 19th C. Sold for $7040
Ancient Indian Carved Sandstone Figure of the Divine Courtesan “Salabhanjika” Sold for $25,600
Tibetan Ritual Silver & Gilt Five Skull Oracle’s Crown Sold for $5440
Fine Mughal Engraved Brass Pandan, Rajastan, Possibly Tanjore, 17th C. Sold for $10,240
Pair of 22K Gold Bracelets, Java, 16th c. Sold for $8125
Fine Tibaetan Ceremonial Trident Trisula, 17th/18th C. Sold for $5440
Tibetan Dharmapala Red Dance Mask Sold for $4375
Sino Tibetan Gilt Bronze Buddha Sold for $30,000
Ming Dynasty Buddha Sold for $17,000
Pair of Chinese Ming Style Horseshoe Chairs Sold for $32,000
Chinese Scroll Chin Ying Study. Sold for $106,250
Dong Gao (1740-1818) Chinese Landscape Scroll. Sold for $31,250
Youqua (Chinese, fl. 1840-1870) “Hongs of Canton,” Ca. Sold for $40,625
13th-14th C. Tibetan Thangka of Amitayu Sold for $16,250
16th C. Tibetan Thangka of Vajra Varahui Sold for $47,500
Ethnographic Arts
Monumental African Igbo Shrine Figure, Nigeria, Ht. 99” Sold for $13,750
Kongo “N’kisi” Magic Fetish, Congo, 19th/early 20th C. Sold for $18,750
African Songye Community Power Figure Sold for $50,000
Monumental Maori Relief Carved House Panel, Ht. 96.5” Sold for $16,250
Fang Byeri Female Reliquary Guardian Sold for $16,640
Pacific Northwest Coast Kerfed and Bentwood Box, Late 19th-Early 20th C. Sold for $25,600
Dayak War Helmet: Headdress, Borneo Sold for $8320
Kahili Handle, Royal Staff, Hawaii, 19th C. Sold for $4160
Pre-Columbian Huari Mummy Face Mask/Head Sold for $11,520
African Baule Mask, Ivory Coast Sold for $12,800
Old Pacific Northwest Native American Mask Sold for $13,750
Tahitian Stone Poi Pounder Sold for $10,600
Massive Antique Tongan Coconut Leaf-Stalk War Club, 19th C. Sold for $5120
West African Bamana Power Figure/Boli Sold for $7040
Karoo Ashevak (Inuit, Kitikmeot Region, 1940-1974) Sold for $34,560
African Baule Mask, Ivory Coast Sold for $12,800
Oriental Rugs
Shahsevan Khorjin Face, Transcaucasus, Early 19th C.
Sold for $36,250
for $32,000
for $11,875
Bakhtiari Carpet, Persia. Sold for $24,320
Agra Rug, India, Ca. 1900. Sold for $21,250
Serapi Rug, Persia, Late 19th C. Sold for $23,040
Oushak Rug, West Anatolia, Sold for $37,500
Fine Serapi Rug, Persia, Ca. 1880 Sold for $22,500
Mohtasham
Kashan Rug, Persia, 19th C. Sold for $28,125
Fine Hadji Jalili Tabriz Rug, Persia. Sold for $31,250
Early Central Anatolian Kilim, 17th/18th C. Sold for Record-Breaking $187,500
Early Hotamish Kilim, Central Anatolia, 17th/18th C. Sold for $162,500
Serapi Rug, Persia, Late 19th C. Sold for $30,720
Kazak Rug, Caucasus, Early/Mid 19th C. Sold for $16,250
Beshir Cloudband Main Rug, Middle Amu Darya, Early/Mid 19th C. Sold for $10,800
Kerman Pictorial Rug Sold for $9375
Konya Rug Fragment, Central Anatolia, 17th/18th C. Sold for $64,000
Early Kazak Prayer Rug, Caucasus, Ca. 1807 Sold for $8750
Southwest Anatolian Megri Rug, Turkey, Ca. 1870. Sold for $7000
Salor Chuval, Turkmenistan, 18th Century Sold for $60,800
Textile Arts
Antique Chinese Imperial Dragon Robe Sold for $28,750 Silk Dragon Robe, China, mid 19th C. Sold for $23,700
Chinese/Tibetan Silk Dragon Robe, 18th C. Sold for $17,500
Tibetan Dragon Robe, 17th C. Sold for $30,720
Antique Tibetan Lama’s Ceremonial Robe Sold for $11,875
Antique Chinese Silk Summer Dragon Robe Sold for $22,500
Kashmir Shawl, Mid 19th C. Sold for $4050
Kashmir Moon Shawl, Late 18th/Early 19th C. Sold for $6875
Fine 19th C. Khmer Pidan/Buddhist Ceremonial Hanging Sold for $15,600
Tekke Embroidered Asmalyk, Turkmenistan Early 19th C. Sold for $16,250
Large Medallion Suzani, Uazbekistan, Early 19th C. Sold for $22,500
Shahrisyabz Suzani, Uzbekistan, Early 19th C. Sold for $40,625
Velvet Ikat Chapan, Uzbekistan, 19th C. Sold for $6875
New Zealand Korowai Maori Cloak, 19th C. Sold for $5525
Ottoman Embroidery Sold for $21,750
Pre-Columbian Nazca Tunic (200 BC - 600 AD) Sold for $12,500
Outstanding Aymara Man’s Ceremonial Llacota Sold for $16,250
Coastal Wari Painted Textile, Decadent Period Sold for $9375
Pre-Columbian Siguas Mantle, Peru, 200-400 CE. Sold for $6080
19th C. Japanese Patchwork/Boro Cloth, 57’’ x 60’’ Sold for $6080
Exceptional Li Dragon Cover, 18th:19th C. Sold for $6400
Antique Chinese Robes
Chodor Hat, Late 19th C. Sold for $4060
Yomud Tall Hat, Gocuk, 19th C. Sold for $1625 Lao Tai Ceremonial Tube Skirt, Ca. 1900 Sold for $4060
Ottoman Aleppo Hat, Early 19th C. Sold for $1625
Fine Folk Outsider
Hector Hyppolite (1894-1948)
“Self-Portrait
Krishen
Attr.
Khanna (Indian, 1925) “The Humiliation of Draupadi”, 1982 Sold for $75,000
Edward Willis Redfield (American, 1869-1965) Sold for $78,125
Andy Warhol (1928-1987) “Howdy Doody” from Myths, 1981 Sold for $35,000
Ito Shinsui (Japanese, 1898-1972) “Yuki no yo” (Snowy Night) Sold for $26,880
Thaddeus Mosley (American, b. 1926) Sold for $53,125
Harry Bertoia Sonambient Sculpture Sold for $53,125
Edward Hopper (American, 1882-1967) “Night Shadows”, 1921 Signed Etching. Sold for $22,500
Howard Finster (American, 1915-2001)
Henry Ford and Family Dogs Sold for $37,500
Samuel Robb (American, 1851-1928) Cigar Store Indian Sold for $46,876
Fred Johnson (American, 1892-1990) Dope Show Banner Sold for $5300
Gregory “Mr. Imagination” Warmack (American, 1948-2012) Masterpiece Throne Sold for $9750
Jacques Enguerrand Gourgue (Haitian, 1930-1996) “Ritualistic Symbols” Sold for $37,500
Satoru Abe (Japanese/American. b.1926) Sold for $27,500
with Family”, C. 1946 Sold for $152,400
Jean Metzinger (French, 1883-1956) “Le Cirque” Sold for $53,975
Robert Williams (b. 1943) “Perplexities Of The Adult World” Sold for $38,000
Jasper Johns (b. 1930) “Between The Clock And The Beåd”, 1989 Sold for $38,000
Magdalena Abakanowicz (Polish, 1930-2017) Untitled “Torso”, 1978 Sold for $36,250
Purvis Young, (American, 1943-2010) Sold for $25,000
Tadeusz Brzozowski (Polish, 1918-1987) Untitled Sold for $120,000
to Marcelo Pogolotti (Cuban, 1902-1988) “Paraiso Terrenal”. Sold for: $51,250
Jack Smith (American, 1932-1989) The Beautiful Book, Sold for $6250
Single Owner
Thinking of Downsizing, Reorganizing, or Selling a Collection?
Whether you’re fine-tuning your personal collection, handling a client’s estate, assisting with deaccessioning for a museum, or simply looking to monetize valuable items, Material Culture offers a trusted, expert-driven path to market. We specialize in the auction of Ethnographic, Asian, and Ancient Art; Oriental Rugs and Textile Arts; as well as Fine, Folk, and Outsider Art.
With over four decades of experience in collectibles from around the world, our team brings a discerning eye and a careful hand to the marketing and sale of your property at public auction. We conduct frequent, heavily advertised theme sales, general estate auctions, and single-owner events throughout the year, covering an eclectic array of material, periods, styles, and price ranges.
All Material Culture auctions are live showroom events held in our spacious, naturally lit, 60,000 square foot galleries—housed in the historic Atwater Kent Radio Factory in Philadelphia. Auctions are preceded by multiday public exhibitions and often include receptions and guest speakers to engage collectors and generate excitement. These sales are presented not only to live attendees but also to a global online audience through multiple robust bidding platforms.
In contrast to other auction houses and corporations that over-rely on online sales at the expense of proper public exhibitions, Material Culture remains grounded in old-world values—respecting the art and artifacts we are entrusted to sell, and honoring the traditions and cultures they represent. We believe that serious objects deserve serious presentation.
Our Philadelphia location, just 11 minutes from the Museum of Art, Center City, and 30th Street Station, draws buyers from across the Washington-to-Boston corridor—and well beyond, including international bidders. We offer free and unlimited parking 7 days a week, with easy loading and unloading access for every size vehicle and truck.
Material Culture provides transparent, competitive commission rates with no additional fees for photography, marketing, insurance, or online listings. Whether you’re consigning a single item, a collection, or an entire estate, you’ll receive individualized attention from initial inspection through to post-auction payment. Our goal is always to connect your property with the most knowledgeable, affluent, and competitive buyers in the world—and to do so with integrity, professionalism, and results.