Material Culture, PA - Upcoming Auctions & 268 Past Catalogs
Material Culture

Material Culture
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With over three decades of experience in the fields of art, decorative arts and antiques from around the world, Material Culture applies its expertise to the appraising, consigning and selling of all kinds of artifacts from local, national and international consignors, including estates, private individuals, trusts, businesses, educational and cultural institutions. Located in Philadelphia, Material Culture prides itself on being a full-service auction house, with the ability to take on single items, collections, or entire estates, through the wide variety of auctions it offers. Material Culture's experience in the global market contributes to the strong showing of buyers overseas as well as domestically, with educated bidders from 30+ countries regularly participating in their high-energy sales. Material Culture is dedicated to providing individualized attention to consignors, buyers and the artifacts up for sale throughout the entire auction process. The expert staff works to stay up-to-date on the developments of the global market, and applies experience, attention and care from appraisal to promotion. Consignors take note: Material Culture offers a no-surprises, competitive flat fee that takes into account all of the expenses associated with finding the best market for an item; there are no special charges for photography, internet listings, insurance, etc. Material Culture aims to exceed expectations and make the auction experience the best it can be for both consignors and buyers. Material Culture�s exhibition galleries, nearly 20,000 square feet of naturally-lit space, are housed under the same roof as Material Culture�s 40,000+ square foot retail space and cafe, at 4700 Wissahickon Avenue, located off the Roosevelt Expressway, only 10 minutes from Philadelphia�s city center. This location is an easy, quick distance for either visitors or residents of the area, an advantage over auction houses far from a large metropolitan center. At the same time, this location provides spacious, hassle-free parking facilities, avoiding a problem that can plague auction houses in dense urban areas. Both exhibitions and auctions take place in Material Culture�s dedicated spaces, and participate in Philadelphia�s status as a city of the arts. Material Culture has always believed that art is for everyone, and aims to make participation in the auction business easier and more accessible to a spectrum of art lovers, for the convenience of the local community, and to the benefit of collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.
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4700 Wissahickon Ave.
Suite 101
Philadelphia, PA 19144
USA
2154384700Send MessageConsign Item

Bidder Reviews for Material Culture (815)

4.6 out of 5.0 Stars

8 Latest Top ReviewsSee All

Margaret
Decatur, GA

Jan 31, 2026
Amazing experience
I bought two pieces in this sale-both were packaged incredibly well. The items were as described and in great condition!
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Ron Meyers (American, b. 1934) Studio Pottery

Pierre
Paris, FR

Jan 15, 2026
Material Culture is a serious gallery, with wonderfull artefacts
Material Culture is a serious gallery, with wonderfull artefacts
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Newari Figural Twining Rod, Nepal, Late 19th C.

Pierre
Paris, FR

Jan 15, 2026
Material Culture is a serious gallery, with wonderfull artefacts
Material Culture is a serious gallery, with wonderfull artefacts
Report
Collector's Lot of Molds and Printing Block

Harlan
Weston, MA

Dec 15, 2025
Friendly, efficient.
Material Culture has wonderful offerings year in and year out. Questions are answered quickly, and they have great expertise in the areas that they handle. Working with the Philapelphia Mailroom on shipping makes for a smooth and affordable process (on my last auction item of seven fragile figures, the shipping and handling was less than 1/3 of that quoted by the Liveauctioneers shipping service).
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Aggie Zed (South Carolina, b.1952) 7 Bisque Pottery Figures

andrew
Kingston, NY

Dec 15, 2025
+ + + +
Very good auction house, honest and Professional.
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Purvis Young (American, 1943-2010) 20" x 53"

Noel
Port Saint Lucie, FL

Nov 13, 2025
Great!
Very good experience
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Olmec Jade Figure Of A Dwarf Wearing A God Mask, C. 1200-900 BCE

Robert
San Antonio, TX

Nov 12, 2025
Handy Live Auctioneers shipping option!
Great auctions, especially Haitian art. I really liked (and used) the Live Auctioneers shipping option and ability to get shipping quotes before auction.
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Payas (Pierre-Sylvain Augustin) (Haitian/Haiti) Mask/Face

Robert
Chicago, IL

Oct 27, 2025
Items represented well. Objects meet or exceed expectations.
Material Culture has some quality objects. The Lega mask I got is really beautiful and the material/rich patina compares well to other masks I've seen many times in museums, catalogues and galleries. Just stunning. It came on a high quality stand. The packing was efficient, layers of wadded paper to fill cavities, which was a little surprising, but it supported the stand and the object well and did not damage the friable kaolin. It let the object stay secure and motionless inside more layers of cushion. Nice job. When there was a slight delay in shipping they were responsive and corrected the issue.
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African Lega Mask

Past Auctions from Material Culture

Berengo Studio Murano Glass Head, Venice
An American Walnut Wooton DeskTabriz Style Rug, Afghanistan, Late 20th C., 9'2'' x 12'0''

WINTER ESTATES

United StatesPhiladelphia, PA, US
Auction Ended
Rare Mao Zedong, Mao Zhu Xi Yu Lu / Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung, Signed, First Edition,
Extremely Rare And Monumental Grain Collage Portrait Of Mao Zedong, H: 8'0"He Kongde (Chinese, 1925-2003) "Gutian Meeting," 1970

THE BATTLEDORE COLLECTION

United StatesPhiladelphia, PA, US
Auction Ended
Reynolds Beal (American, 1866-1951)
The Philadelphia Wireman SculptureHector Hyppolite (Haitian, 1894-1948)

FINE FOLK OUTSIDER

United StatesPhiladelphia, PA, US
Auction Ended
Navajo, Dineh, Serape, 1840-1860, 4'6'' x 7'8''
Sican/Lambayeque Culture Tunic, North Coast, Peru, c. 700-1300 CEClassic Saltillo Sarape, ca. 1800-1825, 4'0'' x 7'9''

TEXTILE ARTS OF THE AMERICAS

United StatesPhiladelphia, PA, US
Auction Ended
Hector Hyppolite (Haitian/Haiti) Purification Ceremony, 1948
Seneque Obin (Haitian/Haiti) L'Union Fait La Force, 1954Philome Obin (Haitian/Haiti) Un Missionnaire, Dated 1951

MIGHTY HAITI

United StatesPhiladelphia, PA, US
Auction Ended
Fine Chinese Silk Dragon Robe, Early/Mid Qing Dynasty
Fine Antique Jain Cosmological Painting on Cloth (Vastrapatas) Dia. 9'2"Aymara Men's Poncho, 17th/18th Century, Exhibited 1978

DAY TWO | TEXTILE ARTS

United StatesPhiladelphia, PA, US
Auction Ended
Antique Wrought Iron Door With The Pennsylvania Coat of Arms
Collector's Lot of Vintage/Antique Silver Judaica (24 Pieces)Antique Native Alaskan Inuit / Yup'ik Doll, Late 19th/ Early 20th C.

SEPTEMBER ESTATES

United StatesPhiladelphia, PA, US
Auction Ended
Chinese Brocade Silk Dragon Surcoat, Late Qing/Early 20th C.
Handmade Pieced and Embroidered Album Quilt, Dated 1905Rare Aymara Ccahua Man's Ponchito, 18th C.

AUGUST TEXTILE ARTS

United StatesPhiladelphia, PA, US
Auction Ended
An American Walnut Wooton Desk
Antique Tibetan Thangka of Vajrapani.750 White Gold And Diamond Brooch

SUMMER ESTATES

United StatesPhiladelphia, PA, US
Auction Ended
Harry Bertoia (Italian/American, 1915-1978) "Willow" 52'' x 34'' x 34''
Maurice Sendak (1928-2012) 3-Piece Painted Theater BackdropSister Gertrude Morgan (1900-1980) "Gertrude and Jesus in Airplane" 9" x 15"

FINE | FOLK | OUTSIDER

United StatesPhiladelphia, PA, US
Auction Ended
Fine 17th C. Ottoman Embroidery, 4'8'' x 7'7''
Rare Balandran Man's Poncho, Sacaca, Dept. of Potosi, 18th C.Central Asian Embroidered Suzani, 19th C., 6'1'' x 7'2'

INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE ARTS

United StatesPhiladelphia, PA, US
Auction Ended
Rare Early Walasse Ting (1929-2010) Ink Brush Painting, 1950s
Louis Vuitton Steamer Trunk, Early 20th C.Chinese Scholar's Rock On Stand

APRIL ESTATES

United StatesPhiladelphia, PA, US
Auction Ended
Aymara Balandran Poncho, Tapircari, Dept. of Cochabamba, 19th C.
Fine Central Asian Suzani, Uzbekistan, 19th C.,  6'10'' x 7'10''Indo-Portuguese Embroidered Linen Wall Hanging, 18th Century, 4'11'' x 6'8''

INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE ARTS

United StatesPhiladelphia, PA, US
Auction Ended