Chinese All-Bamboo Mah Jongg Set Retailed by h.p. Gibson & Sons London, 1920

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Finely carved all-bamboo tiles distinguish this complete Mah Jongg gaming set, produced in China and imported to the United Kingdom … Read more Finely carved all-bamboo tiles distinguish this complete Mah Jongg gaming set, produced in China and imported to the United Kingdom by London game publishers H.P. Gibson & Sons, Ltd. Unlike composite sets backed with bone, each playing piece is shaped entirely from dense bamboo, displaying natural grain across the reverse and crisp hand-engraved face symbols filled with traditional red, green, and blue pigments, complete with Western corner indices for international play. The game pieces are housed across five bright yellow card trays that nest cleanly inside an internal card box bearing the printed retailer mark 'Set No. A. C., All Bamboo Tiles'. Beneath the trays, the lower compartments contain carved bone counting sticks, dice, and markers. The set retains original ephemera from Gibson & Sons, including a scoring pad and a printed leaflet detailing the International Series alongside original retail prices. The exterior case is constructed from sturdy timber board wrapped in patterned patterned fabric with stylised Chinese seal characters and scrollwork, fitted with patinated metal swing handles and a front latch pin. The ensemble dates to the early 1920s craze for the game, measuring approximately 26 cm wide by 15 cm high. Condition is well preserved overall, with clean, legible tiles and intact trays, showing modest age-related surface rub and edge wear to the outer fabric box. See less