Chinese Mao Zedong Lapel Pin

Pines and a row of tiny figures line the bottom of this portrait.

This Mao Zedong lapel pin is from China, and dates to the 20th century. Propaganda posters of the era generally pictured a utopian society, with smiling farmers, brave soldiers and happy people gathered around Mao, who was cast as a benevolent father and wise teacher. Silvery-rimmed red disc carries a head in profile with a high collar. Along the base, small upright figures and rounded tree shapes stand in a silvery row. The red surface is glossy and slightly mottled. It is 2 inches in diameter.

A crowd scene squeezed into a thumb-sized strip.