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This page features Culin-patterned (Category 2.0) bone and bamboo sets in Attaché-style cases.
These cases were either in leather or felt cloth stitched over a cardboard frame or made of wood and covered in a lacquer. They usually contained four tile trays and a centre tray for accessories.
A thick, medium sized tile set. Note the lack of Arabic numerals and English letter on the tiles. Ornate engravings used for the three suits. The left quartet of the Flowers and Seasons read; hui, 'teach'; tao?, 'billows'; bei, 'North'; '?'. The right quartet reads; hu, 'lake'; xi, 'West'; jing, 'scenery'; jia, 'beautiful view'; = jia jing = West Lake; xi hu = beautiful views; = "the beautiful views of the West Lake".
Attaché case. Simulated snake skin over a cardboard frame. Four felt lined trays for the tiles and a fifth narrow tray for the spare blank tiles and other accessories.
This is very likely a Japanese manufactured tile set. Note the style of bird - a style exclusively found in Japanese made tile sets - usually ones made of ivory - c.f. the first Japanese Mahjong Museum book.
Close up of the one Circle and one Bamboo and Flowers tiles. Again, note the formal composition and symmetry of these tiles together with the fine quality of the engravings.
High bone to bamboo ratio.
A well made case in the style of the 1930s attaché cases coming out of China with 'Chinese Bakelite' tiles.(see 'Synthetic' gallery.
Exterior of case.
