Material Culture

Material Culture Shop 60K sq ft of Art/ifacts from around the World & Auction House that aims to be accessible to all. In essence, taste matters.
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We travel around the world, drawing on three decades of experience of art collection in the field, to hand-pick authentic art, furnishing, and elements for home decor. These traditional arts and crafts, ranging from contemporary to the old and antique, are available at a fraction of the price of industrial knockoffs found in catalogs and chain stores. In this age of sterile mass-production, we bel

ieve that, more than ever, the home space should be decorated with pieces of authenticity, personality, beauty, and spirit. And in this economic climate, we believe that individuals should be able to create their unique home affordably. Furthermore, we are committed through our work to environmental sustainability and a strengthening of the global community. While many large businesses pay lip service to green policies, reusing, repurposing and reclaiming traditional artifacts make up the very fabric of our business. Many of these principles culminate in the application of our knowledge to the auction business, where we can pass along the benefits of affordability and sustainability to our local, arts-rich community, and expand our reach to the society of collectors worldwide. The honed eye of Material Culture Auctioneers will bring together unique sellers and buyers who share a common belief in the importance of the distinctive and the beautiful. Whether a treasure from our auctions or our store tugs you in, our ethos remains the same. Through these objects of traditional art and utilitarian craft, we invite you to connect with the fundamental human spirit that animates creation all over the globe, and to participate in the idea that in surrounding ourselves with this spirit, we nurture our own humanity.

05/16/2026

Want a sneak peek into George’s house? Take the grand tour with us. πŸ‘€

And then be sure to stop by our 60K Sq Ft warehouse in Philadelphia to explore a treasure trove of antique rugs, textiles, folk and fine art, and so much more:

πŸ“ 4700 Wissahickon Ave
🌐 materialculture.com

Video credit:

JOIN US! Sunday, May 17, for Refreshments and a Special Lecture at 1PM: β€œObjects in Motion: Highlights from the Chinalai...
05/11/2026

JOIN US! Sunday, May 17, for Refreshments and a Special Lecture at 1PM: β€œObjects in Motion: Highlights from the Chinalai Collection". This special auction includes rarely seen masterpieces of Asian and Ethnographic Art, Textiles, Jewelry, Objects, and Paintings.

THE CHINALAIS | A 50-YEAR COLLECTION
πŸ‘€ Public Exhibition: May 17 - 18
πŸ—¨ Live Showroom Auction: Tue, May 19, 11 AM EST
πŸ“ 4700 Wissahickon Ave, Philadelphia
Browse & Bid at:

https://materialculture.com/auctions/upcoming-auctions/

Pictured here (left to right): Antique Yi Nuosu Armor Cuirass, 18th/19th C., China, H: 19". Lot 1.Burmese Gilt Bronze Buddha, Mandalay Period (1853-1885) H: 19". Lot 20. Large Palad Khik Ph***ic Talisman Tree Shrine, Thailand, Mid 20th C. H: 25". Lot 63. Antique Pair Of Silver Anklets On Stands, N.W. India, C. 1900, 4.5" x 4.5", Weight: 994 g. Lot 115. Pair of Large Miao Silver Apron Counterweights, China, Mid/Late 20th C. L: 9", Weight 991 g. Lot 133. Tua Sai Yao Taoist Priest's Robe, Early/Mid 20th C. Lot 181. Yi Women's Ceremonial Robe, Malipo County, Yunnan, China, Early 20th C. Lot 203. Miao Appliqued and Embroidered Quilt, SW China, Mid/Late 20th C. Lot 274. Miao Silk and Cotton Baby Blanket, Guizhou, China, Early/Mid 20th C. Lot 278. Buyi Child's Bedcover, SW China, circa 1900. Lot 304.

04/13/2026

60,000 Sq Ft of antique rugs and more. And all of it in Philadelphia. Visit our retail shop and auction house at 4700 Wissahickon Ave. We're open 7 days a week.

🌐 materialculture.com

Video credit: Manos del Volcán

Our two-day Spring Estates auction continues with Day 2: Textile Arts and Rugs. Browse and bid on over 300 lots at mater...
04/08/2026

Our two-day Spring Estates auction continues with Day 2: Textile Arts and Rugs. Browse and bid on over 300 lots at materialculture.com.

SPRING ESTATES
Day 2: Textile Arts & Rugs
πŸ‘€ Public Exhibition: Apr 12 - 13
πŸ—¨ Live Showroom Auction: Wed, Apr 15, 11 AM EST
πŸ“ 4700 Wissahickon Ave, Philadelphia

Pictured here (left to right): Aymara Men's Ch'uta Dance Costume, Mid 20th C. Lot 657. Frances Arno Saphro (Ukrainian, 1877-1962) Art Deco Needlepoint Tapestry, 1936. Lot 607. Boucherouite Checkered S**g Rug, Morocco, Mid to Late 20th C., 5'0'' x 6'9''. Lot 913. Hmong Embroidered and Embellished Hats, Thailand, Mid 20th C. Lot 825. Naga Tribal "Story Quilt" Cotton Textile. Lot 837. Floral Wreath Applique Quilt, Early/Mid 20th C. Lot 612. Balinese Tabing Story Cloth, Bali, Late 19th C. Lot 797. 2 Mbuti Painted Barkcloths (Pongo), DRC. Lot 885. Kerman Meditation Rug, Persia, Ca. 1940, 4'2'' x 5'10''. Lot 943. Moroccan Rug, North Africa, Mid 20th C., 6'10'' x 9'0''. Lot 940.

Our two-day annual Spring Estates auction kicks off this April! Browse and bid on over 400 lots, featuring fine art, fol...
04/02/2026

Our two-day annual Spring Estates auction kicks off this April! Browse and bid on over 400 lots, featuring fine art, folk and outsider art, ethnographic works, antiques and decorative arts.

SPRING ESTATES: Day 1
πŸ‘€ Public Exhibition: Apr 12 - 13
πŸ—¨ Live Showroom Auction: Tue, Apr 14, 11 AM EST
πŸ“ 4700 Wissahickon Ave, Philadelphia
🌐 Browse & Bid at materialculture.com

Pictured here (left to right): Korean Armoire, Lacquered Wood, H: 67.5". Lot 285. After Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Italian, 1598-1680) Terracotta Bust, H: 32". Lot 32. .750 White Gold And Diamond Brooch. Lot 18A. Fine Antique Replica Of The St. Ursula Shrine by Hans Memling, Height with Stand: 66". Lot 31. Istvan Zsako (Hungarian, b.1954) "Sun Man" H: 24". Lot 4. Large Antique Sculpture, Possibly Al-Buraq, Polychrome Wood, H: 39". Lot 311. Ming Style Polychrome Wood Figure of Guanyin, H: 25". Lot 288. Arts And Crafts Painted Canvas Tapestry Cartoon, C.1900, 8'11" x 4'9". Lot 28. Alfons Karpinski (Polish, 1875-1961) Portrait, Oil Painting, 27" x 19". Lot 168. Purvis Young (American, 1943-2010) Assemblage, 39" x 17". Lot 197.

Browse & Bid on over 300 lots from our upcoming auction: ORIENTAL RUGS FROM AMERICAN ESTATES | 79. Now live online!πŸ‘€ Pub...
03/13/2026

Browse & Bid on over 300 lots from our upcoming auction: ORIENTAL RUGS FROM AMERICAN ESTATES | 79. Now live online!

πŸ‘€ Public Exhibition: Mar 23-24
πŸ—¨ Live Showroom Auction: Wed, Mar 25, 11 AM EST
πŸ“ 4700 Wissahickon Ave, Philadelphia
🌐 Browse & Bid at materialculture.com

Pictured here (left to right): Hispano Moresque Style Rug, Turkey, Early 20th C., 10'1'' x 13'7''. Lot 268. Fine Gashgai Bagface, Persia, Ca. 1880, 1'6'' x 1'6''. Lot 3. Gabbeh Rug, Persia, Mid 20th C., 3'2'' x 5'3''. Lot 119. Unusual Small Format Gashgai Kilim, Persia, Ca. 1900, 3'5'' x 4'5''. Lot 344. Bidjar Rug, Persia, Ca. 1900, 7'6'' x 9'10''. Lot 272. Palace-Size Mahal Rug, Persia, Ca. 1900, 13'1'' x 20'0''. Lot 279. Karadja Serapi Rug, Persia, Late 19th C., 9'10'' x 13'7''. Lot 276. Gashgai Main Rug, Persia, Ca. 1875, 6'3'' x 9'7''. Lot 141. Serapi Rug, Persia, Late 19th C., 11'3'' x 15'11''. Lot 278. Kurd Camel Field Rug, East Anatolia, 19th C., 4'2'' x 5'9''. Lot 128.

03/04/2026

George answers some of your questions from our recent rug cleaning video - thanks to a fortuitous second snowstorm. Step by step, learn the simple, centuries-old technique of cleaning your rugs in the snow!

Video credit:

02/16/2026

Color tells a story - it’s woven into every rug here at Material Culture. It's a complex story, told in part by natural materials, in part by the fiber itself. George takes a look at the colors, and their stories, in our upcoming auction, International Textile Arts.

INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE ARTS

πŸ‘€ Public Exhibition: Feb 22-23
πŸ—¨ Live Showroom Auction: Tue, Feb 24, 10 AM EST
πŸ“ 4700 Wissahickon Ave, Philadelphia

Start your textile collection: browse & bid on 500 lots from our February auction, INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE ARTS. Visit mat...
02/16/2026

Start your textile collection: browse & bid on 500 lots from our February auction, INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE ARTS. Visit materialculture.com for more info.

INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE ARTS
πŸ‘€ Public Exhibition: Feb 22-23
πŸ—¨ Live Showroom Auction: Tue, Feb 24, 10 AM EST
πŸ“ 4700 Wissahickon Ave, Philadelphia

Pictured here (left to right): Palampore Block Printed Tapestry, India, circa 1900. Lot 370. Uzbek Suzani Embroidered Wall Hanging, Late 19th C. Lot 371. Fine Antique Kashmir Paisley Wool Shawl, India. Lot 346. Armenian Embroidered Textile Panel, 19th C. Lot 380. Ottoman Metal Embroidered Mihrab Prayer Hanging, 19th C. Lot 392. Ewe Strip-Woven Kente Cloth, Ghana, West Africa, 6'10'' x 11'0'. Lot 411. Persian Chain-Stitch Embroidered Wool Panel, 19th C. Lot 384. Igbo Agbogho Mmuo Maiden Spirit Dance Costume, Nigeria, Mid 20th C. Lot 419. Quran Calligraphy Silk Embroidered Silk Tapestry, 19th C. Lot 385. Frances Arno Saphro (Ukrainian, 1877-1962) Art Deco Surrealist Needlepoint Tapestry. Lot 447.

02/09/2026

During the six year period in which Edgar Allan Poe lived in Philadelphia, he wrote more than just horror and poetry. His essay, β€œThe Philosophy of Furniture”, still rings true to what we believe here at Material Culture, two centuries later.

Address

4700 Wissahickon Avenue Ste 101
Philadelphia, PA
19144

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+12158498030

Website

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