Stunning Antique Mahjong Set 1920s Made of Bone and Bamboo in AmazingCarved Box

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This is a wonderful 1920s antique mahjong set produced in China for the international market.

It includes 144 tiles + … Read more This is a wonderful 1920s antique mahjong set produced in China for the international market.

It includes 144 tiles + 4 blank spare tiles. It also includes counting sticks, wind bettor, and bone dices.

The mahjong is a traditional dovetailed mahjong made of bone and bamboo. The ration of bamboo and bone is about 1/5 bamboo 4/5 bone, that is, the highest quality.

The box is in good used condition. It has been waxed and conditioned and lined with velvet. In this typology of mahjong boxes, the lid lifts upwards and slides into the top of the box (see images). As visually amazing as this design was, it was not perfect from a mechanical/engineering perspective. When sliding the lid in and out of the box, it can sometimes get a bit stuck, but it is not something that affects use. The lid can also be removed from the box instead of slid into the top of it. One of the drawer knobs is missing.

Sets like this were exported from Mainland China to the US and European markets during the 1920s and 1930s during the Inter-War Mahjong Craze. They are testaments to the economic and cultural exchanges between China and Western Countries in the early half of the 20th century. They include beautifully carved tiles with Chinese characters and Arabic numbers and letters to facilitate the mechanics of the game for western players. This is an ideal and unique game for any Mahjong connoisseur and player or anyone interested in Chinese culture. See less