Sale: Mao and the Arts of New China

Location: Bloomsbury Auctions, 24 Maddox Street, London W1, tel: +44 (0)20 7495 9494. Catalogue online www.bloomsburyauctions.com

Date: Thursday November 5. On view on Saturday noon-5pm; Sunday 11am-4pm, Monday and Tuesday 9.30am-5.30pm, Wednesday 9.30am-8pm, Thursday 9.30am-1pm

Need to know: Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution of 1966 resulted in the destruction of untold quantities of antiques, books and paintings – but it also created a new genre of art: those standardised forms of imagery that were deemed acceptable by Mao’s wife, Jiang Qing, whose role as head of propaganda ensured that artists produced work that was entirely “on message”. This is the first sale of such items, examples of which are rare as most were destroyed following Mao’s death in 1976. Many of the 300 objects on offer come from the collection of former British Army officer Peter Wain, who served in Hong Kong from 1969 to 1972, buying pieces from the government-owned “arts and crafts friendship stores” that also served as Communist party bases.

Highlights: Although more than 350m copies of Mao’s Little Red Book were published within 18 months of the Revolution, most were symbolically ripped up when it came to an end. Survivors are rare, but this sale has examples ranging from what is believed to be a trial specimen that could fetch up to £30,000, three editions in Hebrew (£1,200-£1,800) and even a Braille version (£300-£500). But as the masses were largely illiterate, strong visual images were important – especially those depicting Mao, over which artists had to take care as even slight flaws could result in dire consequences for the creator. A porcelain vase decorated with a portrait of Mao emanating sunrays is estimated at £10,000-£15,000, a woodblock print of the leader in black, red and blue is on offer at £4,000-£6,000 and an 18-inch porcelain figure of him is expected to fetch £800-£1,200. Other offerings include more than 80 Cultural Revolution badges (£300-£500) and a collection of 20 Red Guard armbands (£300-£400).