Chinese Mao Zedong Lapel Pin

Flag, a smoking steamer, and a profile, all stacked in layers.

This Mao Zedong lapel pin is from China, and dates to the 20th century. It is metal. After Mao's death in 1976, the Communist Party began a process of de-Mao-ization, and much memorabilia was destroyed, statues were taken down, and many badges were collected and melted into functional objects. Shaped like layered red flags on a pole, with a gold head in profile at the top. A steamship with a small mast and smoke plume sails over pale blue waves at the base. It is 1 inches wide and 1 high.

Crowded, but every layer earns its space.