Lot 202114: Antique 1920s/30s Bone & Bamboo Mahjong Set in 5-Drawer Wooden Case

Auction

Estate Auction: Multiple-Estate Liquidation Roseville, CA (180)

Lot Number

202114

Status

Sold

Hammer / Price

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Opening Bid

$5.00

Accepted Bids

31

Closed

1/18/26 8:40 PM PT

Description

An antique or vintage Chinese mahjong set with bone and bamboo tiles housed in a wooden case. The tiles are crafted from bovine bone and bamboo, a common traditional method for early 20th-century sets. The set is contained within a multi-drawer wooden case with brass hardware. Such sets often date back to the 1920s or 1930s and are considered collectibles. The case is usually rosewood or a similar hardwood, featuring brass corners, a top handle, and drawer pulls. The tiles are hand-carved and hand-painted with Chinese characters and designs, such as flowers, dragons, and winds. An average set contains 144 tiles, though some variations have more. The included pamphlet, which appears to be "The Game of Mah-Jongg," is likely an early English-language rulebook, possibly an adaptation by Joseph P. Babcock, who helped popularize the game in the West in the 1920s. This type of set became a status symbol during the Mahjong craze in America during the 1920s and is a popular collector's item today. 6" H x 9.5" W x 6.5" L Good condition.