Featured Mahjong

Aren't you lucky somebody here plays mahjong?

The set (let's pretend for a minute that it is one, complete set) is about 70-80 years old. These sorta butterscotchy (I heard one friend call it an "apple-juice") sets were made in the 40s, 50s, taking advantage of advances in plastics developments happening at the time.

Something like this would've been made in Hong Kong, and sold for export. And yes, if it was sold for export, then the tiles would likely have been numbered, to make things easier for non-Chinese readers to understand the game.

As for what they're made of - Bakelite, also known as Catalin.

I have a set similar to this, from the 1950s...

 

Thanks!

As some of the butterscotch/green tiles are numbered and some aren't, will it indeed be likely that my incomplete set has tiles from (at least) 3 different sets?
Every time I take a new look at the tiles, the set becomes less and less complete...

 

That makes sense with the Cantonese style carved box.

And that too. The carving is definitely not for the domestic market.

 

Is this something cobbled together from a bunch of different sets to make one set?

Short answer:

Yes.

The myriads suite (the numbered suite in Chinese characters) which are both numbered, and un-numbered. A complete set would have them ALL NUMBERED or ALL UN-NUMBERED.

Same goes for the coins suite, and the strings of coins suite. Since they're a mix of numbered and un-numbered, that means it's at least two different sets married together to make one set.

Unfortunately, these sets are fairly expensive.

I bought mine at a flea-market for about $180. I saw ANOTHER set almost identical (didn't buy it), at an antiques fair a few months later, for $450!!

 

My short answer to that:

 

You could still sell it as 1940s-50s home decor.

 

My various antique MJ sets. I've got about half a dozen...

 

Nice collection, but I bet you don't have a special unique one of a kind limited edition, that has 141 tiles, instead of the regular 144, and consists of 3 different types of tiles. That would really be a wonderful addition to your collection, right?

 

Smooth @Marote ......... very smooth !!!!

 

I would not presume to have the funds available to purchase such a rare and unique piece of gaming history, which must surely command a premium for its one-of-a-kind status.

I'm only a humble antiques dealer, after all!!

 

Wait I have mahjong set that was my grandmothers. I have never opened it I have never played it & it’s still sitting in a closet. So now I know count the tiles. Marita your is most certainly one of a kind!

 

Mahjong set tile-numbers vary enormously.

Low end - 136 (no flowers or seasons. Japanese set).

Usual rage - 144 (traditional Chinese set).

Upper range - 152 (American set).

I'm sure there are other variations, but those are the main ones.

 

Ok, auto correct changed your name @Marote, I am so sorry I missed it.

@Shangas If I didn’t pull my back out, I would go upstairs & check because I had no clue they have different tile counts! I thought Mahjong only had 1 version‍♀️! All I know she played often & was a serious player with a group of the same ladies for many years, she was the last to pass.

 

depends what you paid for the set, but not all is lost. if you google mahjong jewelry, the tiles would have interest

 

Found these on Ebay https://www.ebay.com/itm/156402772791
16 tiles, similar to my 2 tone tiles, and these were sold for $100
Not such a bad buy after all ...

 

Not as beautiful as the other, but at least this time a complete set (well almost, as there should have been a handle, right?) with 144 tiles + 4 blanks

What can you tell me about this set @Shangas?

I've found this one
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/vintage-bakelite-mah-jong-set-case-a-f-699-c-fb6407fbb3

with an estimated selling price of $30 AUD - $80 AUD

And then there's this one
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/174627612153

asking AU $1,050.00!?!

 

You can make a replacement yourself, it doesn't look very difficult. If I am correct it was one of those leather straps with almost arrow-shaped ends that you slide through the loops.

 

Something like this?

 

Yes, that is what I was thinking of.