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Material Culture is located in what was once the largest radio manufacturing plant in the world! What Would Arthur Atwater Kent Think of 4700 Wissahickon Today? Arthur Atwater Kent (1873-1949) Founded by Arthur Atwater Kent (1873-1949), the Atwater Kent Manufacturing Company became, by 1925, the largest maker of radios in the world. At its peak, in 1929, the company employed over 12,000 workers here at 4700 Wissahickon Ave. manufacturing nearly one million radio sets annually. The 32 acre single-expanse building with serrated glass-roof was an architectural sensation and received thousands of international visitors. The company also sponsored the popular "Atwater Kent Hour", a top-rated radio concert music program heard on NBC and CBS from 1926 to 1934. The show featured top entertainment and became one of the most popular and acclaimed regular radio programs of the era. Since 1993, Material Culture has recycled a sizable portion of Atwater Kent's factory in a number of inventive and ground-breaking ways: Atwater Kent Radio Manufacturing Plant (1946) • As a warehouse store that is equal parts Grand Bazaar and Post-Modern Industrial, a space filled with legendary values and surprises, where thousands of savvy shoppers, designers, collectors, and businesses around [...]

Bamyan, Afghanistan   Explorations | Bidjar Traditions Natural Dye Samplers Fresh Catch of the Day  

The 30-Year, 30% Off Sale!  Sale Prices Listed Below! 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—qualities sorely lacking in today’s contemporary, mass-manufactured, “disposable” furniture. The adaptability of this furniture enhances its usefulness. Slim shelves become perfect spice or curio cabinets, while larger pieces fit seamlessly into dens, living rooms, or kitchens. 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. For much of their history, most Indians did not use Western types of furniture in their homes, but rather low tables and cushions on the floor, for lounging, eating and sleeping, while Indian Royals also used ceremonial pieces like thrones. Starting in the 16th century, European conquests of various parts of India meant an influx over time of Portuguese, French, Dutch and English domestic habits, including furniture uses and styles. Desiring their traditional furnishings, [...]

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.

  Award-Winning Author & Chef Aliza Green's Latest Book: "Aruba’s Papiamento Cuisine" Award-winning author and chef Aliza Green will be at Material Culture to present her latest book, 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.   Savoring Aruba A Culinary Journey through Caribbean Flavors Award-Winning Author & Chef Aliza Green From dazzling white sugar sand beaches to seemingly never-ending stretches of turquoise ocean, the small Caribbean island of Aruba is culture-rich with deep-rooted traditions and diverse flavors. Aruba’s Papiamento Cuisine: New Caribbean Cooking Celebrating its Creole Roots and Multicultural Flavors (Panamericana, Bogota, Colombia, October 2023 $40.00 US), written by award-winning cookbook author Aliza Green, is both a love letter and an introduction to Aruba. Green will take you on a dynamic journey through the island to discover a cuisine infused with vibrant Caribbean creole ingredients and techniques with international flair. Local food [...]

50% OFF ALL FURNITURE, ACCESSORIES, ART, ARCHITECTURAL, ETHNOGRAPHIC, TRIBAL, FOLK ART, TEXTILES, CERAMICS, LIGHTING, SCULPTURE, GARDEN, HOME…ON AND ON… 30% OFF ALL RUGS & KILIMS AND EVEN GREATER DISCOUNTS ON SELECTED ITEMS! SAT/SUN WEEKEND REFRESHMENTS BOTTOM LINE: WE NEED TO MAKE SPACE FOR MANY EXCITING NEW PROJECTS IN 2024 AND WE ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED TO SELL, SELL, AND SELL SOME MORE… THIS IS TRULY A ONCE IN 30 YEARS EVENT!

Please Join the Tibetan Buddhist Monks Of Drepung Gomang Monastery, India, for the Construction and Dismantling of a Sacred Tibetan Sand Mandala. Mandala Construction: Tuesday, Sept. 19 - Sunday, Sept. 24, 10am-4pm Tibetan Cultural Pageant: Saturday, Sept. 23, Noon Mandala Dismantling: Sunday, Sept. 24, 1pm Free, Open to the Public, Unlimited Free Parking, Everyone Welcome, Bring Kids 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. CULTURAL PERFORMANCE PROGRAM, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1PM Welcoming His Holiness The Dalai Lama And Offering Of Mandala. According to Tibetan custom, if His Holiness in not physically present, his holy portrait is displayed to symbolize that he is nevertheless the Chief Guest at the function or gatherings. At the same time, one offers all that one values in the Universe by reciting prayers, and visualizing that one is offering these to the guru or lama. Tashi Sholpa (Good Luck Dance) Tashi Shoelpa is the oldest opera company in Tibet. This dance originally appeared in a dream of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama in 1645 and was performed [...]

Please Join the Tibetan Buddhist Monks of Drepung Gomang Monastery, India, for the Construction and Dismantling of a Sacred Tibetan Sand Mandala. Click Here to Watch the Video Mandala Construction: Tuesday, July 9 – Sunday, July 14, 10am-4pm Tibetan Cultural Pageant: Saturday, July 13, Noon Mandala Dismantling: Sunday, July 14, 11am Free, Open to the Public, Unlimited Free Parking, Everyone Welcome, Bring Kids 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. CULTURAL PERFORMANCE PROGRAM, SATURDAY, JULY 13, Noon Welcoming His Holiness The Dalai Lama And Offering Of Mandala. According to Tibetan custom, if His Holiness in not physically present, his holy portrait is displayed to symbolize that he is nevertheless the Chief Guest at the function or gatherings. At the same time, one offers all that one values in the Universe by reciting prayers, and visualizing that one is offering these to the guru or lama. Tashi Sholpa (Good Luck Dance) Tashi Shoelpa is the oldest opera company in Tibet. This dance originally appeared in a dream [...]