MATERIAL CULTURE FROM THE ERA OF MAO
50 Years of Chinese Art and Artifacts – The Battledore Collection
398 Lots | No Reserves

Live Showroom Auction: Monday, December 8, 2025, 10AM EST
Public Exhibition: December 5-7, 11AM – 4PM

Join Us! Special Exhibition Reception & Refreshments,
Sunday, December 7, Noon – 3PM

BUYER’S PREMIUM: IN-HOUSE, PHONE, ABSENTEE: 25%
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Material Culture is proud to announce “Material Culture from the Era of Mao: 50 Years of Chinese Art and Artifacts – The Battledore Collection,” an extraordinary auction presenting the personal collection of Justin G. Schiller, internationally celebrated art-book dealer, collector, and cultural historian.

Spanning four decades of collecting, this exceptional group of paintings, posters, ceramics, sculptures, textiles, and artifacts from China’s Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) reflects Schiller’s lifelong fascination with visual storytelling and cultural history in its many forms. Assembled with scholarly care and aesthetic curiosity, the Battledore Collection—named after Schiller’s pioneering gallery devoted to illustrated art and children’s literature—illuminates the intersection of art, ideology, and design during one of the most complex and dynamic periods in modern Chinese history.

A prodigy collector who began trading rare children’s books at age ten, Justin Schiller went on to become one of the world’s foremost authorities in the field. His clients have included major institutions such as the Morgan Library & Museum, the Library of Congress, the British Library, and Yale University’s Beinecke Library.

Beyond his renown in the world of fine books and illustration, Schiller’s passion extends to global visual culture—from 19th-century political graphics and animation art to the visual legacy of modern China. His keen eye for narrative imagery and symbolism naturally drew him to the bold aesthetics of the Maoist era, where artistic innovation met the spirit of collective transformation.

The works and artifacts in the Battledore Collection—many of them rarely seen outside China—trace the evolution of a visual language that helped define a nation’s modern identity. From heroic portraits and didactic posters to hand-painted porcelain, textiles, and sculpture, these pieces reflect both the ideals and contradictions of a society in rapid transition.

The exhibition at Material Culture presents this body of work as visual history—a record of collective aspiration, craftsmanship, and artistic ingenuity under extraordinary circumstances.

For press inquiries, images, or to request an exhibition preview, please contact:
frontdesk@materialculture.com | 215-438-4700

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.