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Thomas Wheelock Material Culture is honored to announce the sale of The Thomas Wheelock Collection of African Art, set to take place on October 28, 2024. This remarkable collection, assembled over decades, stands as the largest private gathering of Burkina Faso art in the world. It has been immortalized in the rare and influential book, "Land of the Flying Masks: Art and Culture in Burkina Faso; The Thomas G.B. Wheelock Collection," which showcases hundreds of coveted pieces. These include works from the Nuna, Bwa, Bobo, and Mossi peoples, alongside notable objects from the Lobi, Gurunsi, Winiama, and Lela communities. For the first time, these artifacts will be offered for auction, presenting a unique opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts alike. The collection is a comprehensive display of tribal artistry, featuring an array of cultural objects such as rare masks, shrine posts, staffs, figures, scepters, dance costumes, flutes, stools, and more. Each piece offers a window into the rich cultural heritage of Burkina Faso, representing a vivid history of artistic expression. A public exhibition will be held from October 25 to 27, the weekend preceding the sale, with a special catered event and a guest speaker on Sunday, October 27. [...]

THE THOMAS WHEELOCK COLLECTION OF AFRICAN ART ~ 230 LOTS ~ NO RESERVES Live Showroom Auction: Monday, October 28, 2024, 11AM ET Public Exhibition: October 25, 26, 27, 11AM-4PM Join Us! Exhibition Reception: Sunday, October 27, 1PM to 4PM. Special Guest Speaker, Amyas Naegele, 2PM, “Man of the Flying Masks: Thomas Wheelock” BUYER’S PREMIUM: IN-HOUSE, PHONE, ABSENTEE: 25% Absentee Bid Form | Telephone Bid Form | Terms and Conditions (PDF) Browse the Auction Catalog and Bid Live Online: Online Bidding Also Available on these Portals: Material Culture is honored to announce the sale of The Thomas Wheelock Collection of African Art, set to take place on October 28, 2024. This remarkable collection, assembled over decades, stands as the largest private gathering of Burkina Faso art in the world. It has been immortalized in the rare and influential book, "Land of the Flying Masks: Art and Culture in Burkina Faso; The Thomas G.B. Wheelock Collection," which showcases hundreds of coveted pieces…Continue Reading NOTE: There Are No Hidden or Confidential Reserves; All Acceptable Bidding Commences at the Online Start Price. We Sell Approximately 60-80 Lots Per Hour. Shown below are a small sampling of lots. Please go to one of the online [...]

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, [...]

ORIENTAL RUGS FROM AMERICAN ESTATES | 69 ~ 377 LOTS ~ NO RESERVES Live Showroom Auction: Tuesday, October 15, 2024, 10AM Public Exhibition: October 13-14, 11AM-4PM BUYER’S PREMIUM: IN-HOUSE, PHONE, ABSENTEE: 25% Absentee Bid Form | Telephone Bid Form | Terms and Conditions (PDF) Browse the Auction Catalog and Bid Live Online: Online Bidding Also Available on these Portals: NOTE: There Are No Hidden or Confidential Reserves; All Acceptable Bidding Commences at the Online Start Price. We Sell Approximately 60-80 Lots Per Hour. Shown below are a small sampling of lots. Please go to one of the online portal links above to view the entire auction catalog.

INDIA AND BEYOND | FINE ANTIQUE CARPETS FROM THE KHALILI COLLECTION, LOS ANGELES | NO RESERVES Live Showroom Auction: Wednesday, September 25, 2024, 1PM ET
 Public Exhibition: September 22-23-24, 11AM-4PM BUYER’S PREMIUM: IN-HOUSE, PHONE, ABSENTEE: 25% Absentee Bid Form | Telephone Bid Form | Terms and Conditions (PDF) Browse the Auction Catalog and Bid Live Online: Online Bidding Also Available on these Portals: Please Note: There Are No Hidden or Confidential Reserves; All Acceptable Bidding Commences at the Online Start Price. We Sell Approximately 60-80 Lots Per Hour. Shown below are a small sampling of lots. Please go to one of the online portal links above to view the entire auction catalog.

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.

AMERICA’S GOT RUGS! ANTIQUE, VINTAGE & MODERN RUGS FROM AMERICAN ESTATES CHANGE OF DATE: Due to Technical Internet Issues Beyond Our Control, This Auction Was Postponed on September 12. New Starting Date and Time: LIVE SHOWROOM AUCTION: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2024, 10AM ET
 BUYER’S PREMIUM: IN-HOUSE, PHONE, ABSENTEE: 25% Absentee Bid Form | Telephone Bid Form | Terms and Conditions (PDF) Browse the Auction Catalog and Bid Live Online: Online Bidding Also Available on these Portals: Please Note: There Are No Hidden or Confidential Reserves; All Acceptable Bidding Commences at the Online Start Price. We Sell Approximately 60-80 Lots Per Hour. Shown below are a small sampling of lots. Please go to one of the online portal links above to view the entire auction catalog.

AUGUST ESTATES FINE ART, ANTIQUES, DECORATIVE ARTS, ASIAN ARTS, FURNISHINGS, ETHNOGRAPHICA 532 LOTS | NO RESERVES Live Showroom Auction: Tuesday, August 27, 2024, 10AM ET
 Public Exhibition: August 25, 26, 11AM-4PM BUYER’S PREMIUM: IN-HOUSE, PHONE, ABSENTEE: 25% Absentee Bid Form | Telephone Bid Form | Terms and Conditions (PDF) Browse the Auction Catalog and Bid Live Online: Online Bidding Also Available on these Portals:

INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE ARTS | NO RESERVES Live Showroom Auction: Wednesday, July 31, 11AM ET Public Exhibition: July 29 - 30, 11AM - 4PM Please Note: If you wish to examine certain lots in person during the exhibition, please make an appointment and email the list of lot numbers ahead to expert@materialculture.com BUYER’S PREMIUM: IN-HOUSE, PHONE, ABSENTEE: 25% Absentee Bid Form | Telephone Bid Form | Terms and Conditions (PDF) Browse the Auction Catalog and Bid Live Online: Online Bidding Also Available on these Portals: NOTE: There Are No Hidden or Confidential Reserves; All Acceptable Bidding Commences at the Online Start Price. We Sell Approximately 60-80 Lots Per Hour. Shown below are a small sampling of lots. Please go to one of the online portal links above to view the entire auction catalog.      

SUMMER ESTATES | NO RESERVES | 585 LOTS FINE ART, ANTIQUES, DECORATIVE ARTS, FINE FURNISHINGS, ETHNOGRAPHICA, ORIENTAL RUGS 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 BUYER’S PREMIUM: IN-HOUSE, PHONE, ABSENTEE: 25% Absentee Bid Form | Telephone Bid Form | Terms and Conditions (PDF) Browse the Auction Catalog and Bid Live Online: Online Bidding Also Available on these Portals: 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. For the first time in our 30-year history, we are offering a container of this furniture at auction, diverging from our usual focus on selling items from estates and private individuals. This venture is an experiment to determine if the auction model is a viable method for marketing these items. We hope that both resellers and private individuals find this an effective way to shop. Unlike contemporary alternatives made from engineered wood or plastic, this real wood furniture is longer-lasting, more sustainable, and arguably more beautiful. These pieces, such [...]