14. February 2025
An original, late Qing Dynasty era wrapping paper for cotton yarn by E.D. Sassoon & Co in China. From the MOFBA collection.
This rare, late Qing Dynasty wrapping paper from our collection bears the coat of arms of a family that was once among the wealthiest in the world and shaped China like no other. It tells a story filled with drugs, family feuds, and vast fortunes won and lost…
26. January 2025
1930s Chinese New Year-themed advertisement for BASF Indanthrene dye. From the MOFBA collection.
Happy Chinese New Year 2025 from the MOFBA with this enchanting 1930s ad for BASF Indanthrene dye from our collection.
25. December 2024
Ca. 1920s candy tin by the Ysien Dah Co. from Shanghai, China. From the MOFBA collection.
A charming candy tin from our collection, with a Santa Claus illustration by the Ysien Dah Co. from Shanghai, China. Ca. 1920s.
15. December 2024
This ca. 1920s postcard from our collection shows a food stall somewhere in China or possibly Hong Kong. The advertisement posters on the wall emphasize just how aggressively cigarettes were mass-marketed in old China. At the peak of its activities in China in 1937, the British American Tobacco Company (BAT) manufactured and distributed approximately a stunning 55 billion machine-made cigarettes to Chinese consumers per year.
02. December 2024
Original Chinese early-1930s advertisement sign for J & Baldwin's "BB" Beehive wool brand. From the MOFBA collection.
This gorgeous cardboard advertising sign from our collection recalls the era when Beehive Wools illuminated Shanghai with the world’s second largest neon sign. Amid the turmoil of the war, this iconic installation briefly revived the city's spirit with a glimmer of hope during the darkest of times:
28. October 2024
J.S. Staedtler ca. 1930s Chinese advertising card and original pencils. From the MOFBA collection.
Would you believe that a 362-year-old German manufacturer has been marketing & selling pencils to the Chinese for 100 years? Well, this ca. 1930s advertising card and original pens from our collection tell the story of how that indeed came about…
20. October 2024
Ca. 1937 Chinese Agfa Isochrom film advertisement sign featuring Liang Saizhu. From the MOFBA collection.
This magnificent 1938 advertising sign for Agfa films from our collection, connects several brands, celebrities and stories we’ve previously covered. It is also a reflection of the profound cultural & societal changes that transformed China during this period.
04. August 2024
1930s colorful print advertisement for "The Dollar Brick" by Hazelwood Ice Cream from Shanghai, China. From the MOFBA collection.
A colorful 1930s print advertisement for the Hazelwood "The Dollar Brick" ice cream. More on the Hazelwood brand and its manufacturer Henningsen Produce from Shanghai, China in our previous article here.
12. July 2024
1925 Chinese calendar poster advertisement for BASF featuring Mei Lanfang and designed by Hang Zhiying. From the MOFBA collection.
Cross-dressing KOL’s, German dyes and Republican China’s most prolific commercial artist: This gorgeous 1925 calendar poster for BASF from our collection, ties back to a lot of topics we previously covered. Follow along for a short but colorful review.
05. July 2024
1936 Shenbao newspaper advertisement for the Phoebus Cartel, represented by the China United Lamp Co. with an original Chinese Philips light bulb. From the MOFBA collection.
Behold an original 1930s Philips light bulb from our collection. If you look closely, you’ll however notice a strange ad behind it: A hint at the largest global business conspiracy you have never heard of and that found its end by what eventually unfolded in China.

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