98. Glass Mango set, rare set of ornamental, commemorative, mango, stand and container, the last with a portrait of Mao in a radiant sun, and extensively inscirbed ‘ Respect and Wishes to Chairman Mao for a Long Life, Commemorate Great Leader Chairman Mao who gave this cherished gift - Mango - to Capital Workers Peasant Mao Tse-tung Thought Propaganda Team’, coloured glass mango, 120mm. long, on glass stand placed with glass container, 195 x 200 x 100mm., this with small chips in two lower corners, unmarked, c.1970.
est. £1500 – £2000
In 1968, Chairman Mao was presented with a given of seven mangos by a delegation from Pakistan. As he disliked the fruit, he bestowed then as gifts to seven Worker-Peasant Mao Zedong Thought Propaganda Teams. This set commemorates that event, which was also meant to mark Mao’s displeasure at the factions within the Red Guard, leading to these teams being sent in to factories and universities to restore order.