Guest Contributions

This set is a fine example of the precision engraving associated with tile sets made from more expensive materials - in this case the ebony backing. Note the uniform precision of the suits' patterns, a property normally found in ivory sets from this period (probably 1920's). The Flowers/Seasons have dispensed with the sinograms and use just Western lettering and Arabic numerals. (Courtesy of the garland1943 collection).

Wooden cabinet containing five wooden trays for the tiles. Front sliding panel. The outer shell consists of side panels engraved and coloured showing various scenes. Wooden carved handle. Overall they produce a highly decorative effect. (Courtesy of the garland1943 collection).

This bone and bamboo tile set displays the sixteen Flowers/Seasons that had appeared in tile sets at least by the late 1930's as detailed in the article 'Flowers and Kings', The playing-card Vol. 37, No. 1. (see the section Tile Set History). Highly decorative with top quality engraving. The circle suit displays the use of Plum blossoms on the numbers 2-9. The rest of the suits are ornately engraved with the traditional form for 'wan', 'Myriads' used on the Myriads/'Character' suit. (Courtesy of the garland1943 collection).

Close-up showing the fine detail of the engraving. (Courtesy of the garland1943 collection).

Wooden cabinet with a slide-up front, five wooden tile trays inside plus one metal handle (one missing). Fine bone marquetry on four sides. (Courtesy of the garland1943 collection).

Fine French Ivory tile set. Top quality engravings and paint work which tend to suffer from paint loss over time. Here we have retained all paint work. Note the use of the sinogram 'bai', white, for the White 'Dragon'. The left-hand quartet of Flowers/Seasons display the sinograms of 'li' Plum, 'lan' Orchid, 'zhu' Bamboo' and 'ju' Chrysanthemum = the Four Noble Plants. These are displayed in the vases. Next to the vases we have the symbols of books, painting, chess and lute = the Four Arts of the Scholar. The right quartet have the sinograms of 'chun' Spring','xia' Summer, 'qiu' Autumn and 'dong' Winter. The plants might be Pomegranate?, Lotus, Peony? and Narcissus? (Courtesy of the garland1943 collection).

Wooden cabinet with metal handles. Slide-up front reveals five wooden trays for tiles and accessory. Decorative front panel is painted with a scene displaying perhaps a Phoenix on red Peonies. (Courtesy of the garland1943 collection).

This bone and bamboo set displays the use of ornate suit symbols plus a steam ship on one of the Flowers/Seasons quartet. Also present are the diamond shape arrangement for the nine Cash/'Circles' plus an unusual form of a bamboo shoot on the String of Cash/'Bamboo' suit. together with a more ornate form for the 'Bamboo' rods. The number one cash may sport Plum blossoms in the middle. (Courtesy of the garland1943 collection).

Wooden cabinet with extensive metal ornamentation. Missing slide-up front but showing the five wooden trays for tiles and accessories. (Courtesy of the garland1943 collection).

A decorative bone and bamboo set with sixteen Flowers/Seasons commonly seen in synthetic tile sets. The scenes show conflict from the Sino-Japanese War/WW2 which can give a period when this tile set was made. The Cash/'Circles' are decorated with Plum blossom and the number one SoC/'Bamboo' shows a bird standing on a citrus fruit called 'Buddhas Hand' (Citrus midica). It may represent wealth. The 'Bamboo' rods appear to show rounded ends. This form of rod is another type of pattern used for this suit and is more indicative of coins viewed at the ends of a string. (Courtesy of the garland1943 collection).

close-up of the Flowers/Seasons four quartets showing the fine engraving used to display the conflict of war. A good representation of an aircraft on one of the tiles. (Courtesy of the garland1943 collection).

Leather box case with side clasps and front lock. Five trays inside. Metal handles. (Courtesy of the garland1943 collection).

This set is the same style as the 'war-1' set, together with the same motifs. However it now has sixteen Flowers/Seasons showing figures in traditional costume. The first column reads; qin 'lute', qi 'chess', shu 'books' and hua 'painting' = the Four Arts of the Scholar. The second column reads; xiao 'leisurely', yao 'far' = "carefree" and kuai 'happy', le 'cheerful' = "happiness". Thus "carefree and happy". The third column reads; ?, ? 'beautiful clothing', ?, wu 'dance' = a Performance? The last column reads; fu 'good luck', lu 'promotion', shou 'long life', xi 'happiness' = four blessings. (Courtesy of the casity collection)

Close-up of the number one 'Bamboo' showing a coin-carrying bird standing on a citrus fruit called 'Buddhas Hand'. This may be a symbol for wealth in the context that this suit was called suo 'Strings of Cash'. (Courtesy of the casity collection)

Cash or 'Circles' suit showing circles decorated with flower blossoms. (Courtesy of the casity collection)

Carved cabinet with five internal wooden trays for tiles and accessories. (Courtesy of the casity collection)

Another side view. (Courtesy of the casity collection)

Side view. (Courtesy of the casity collection)

Carved handle. (Courtesy of the casity collection)

Synthetic tiled set with sixteen flowers/Seasons. Note the framed White 'Dragon'. (Courtesy of the casity collection)

Sixteen Flowers/Seasons. First row; Nobleman acquires riches, snakes acquire frogs. Second row; Fisherman catches fish and cat catches rat. Third and fourth rows unknown at this time. (Courtesy of the casity collection)

Close-up of tiles. (Courtesy of the casity collection)

Another close-up. (Courtesy of the casity collection)

Attache style case of leather stitched over a cardboard frame. Five felt-lined trays inside for tiles and accessories. (Courtesy of the casity collection)

1920-30s flat-cased set by German manufacturer F. Ad. Richter & Cie, better known for their Anker (Anchor) building blocks and their famous 'stone' Mah Jong sets. The faux leather double clasp box measures 340x225x55mm, houses 4 tile trays and a centre tray for counters etc. The tiles are 31x22x10mm, made from a French Ivory (Acetate) wafer glued onto red hardwood base 20/80, with design impressed into the acetate; some of the wafers are coming loose, but can be re-glued - 2 of the tiles are replacements and have been aged with shellac to match the rest.

The faux leather double clasp box measures 340x225x55mm, houses 4 tile trays and a centre tray for counters etc.

A set made by the German manufacturer Golconda. The tiles are 29x19x9mm, made from an acetate wafer glued onto red hardwood base 25/75, with design impressed into the acetate; some of the wafers are coming loose, but can be re-glued.

The faux shagreen covered cardboard box has a clasp top and opening front housing 5 wood/stiff card trays. Box measures 193x130x70mm.

A set from Chad valley. The tiles are bamboo (they may be a marriage), with a thin <1mm film of some material (not sure what) on the inner surface, then the characters carved into the film - this gives a much better finish than carving straight into the bamboo. The 4 spare tiles are pretty rough compared to the rest.

Made in UK. Same design of box houses different style of tiles.

Untreated hardwood, rounded backs, hand-carved designs, unusual circles and white dragon. Strangely attractive.

Probably made in Germany.

Galeries Lafayette. Hardwood tiles, impressed design, back & sides painted red, front lacquered (which was very dirty and aged, so was removed with alcohol).

Made in France.

Unknown make. Unusual porcelain tiles, design underglazed, very heavy.

Probably made in Germany. Very distressed box, due to weight of the porcelain tiles.

Bamboo tiles with bamboo wafer on front, design carved, then lacquered. A superior set having the appearance of 'bakelite' and with good weight and feel. Unusual specials design.

These sets have several designs, but most feature a panda. Well made.

Imperial Baby. Unusual Ebonite tiles, patterned back, recessed front holding paper design with acetate film (which is peeling on some tiles). Very tactile and heavy with nice clicking sound. Looks very like Imperial dominoes.

Made in France. Badly damaged box which was covered in Fablon - removed with heat-gun and adhesive with alcohol. Box corners glued and damage will be repaired.

A decorative bone and bamboo set. The white 'Dragons' have been custom engraved.

The Flowers/Seasons, consisting of birds and trees. Note the colouring of the birds and the trees in each set. The top row reads; song 'pine', bai 'cypress', tong 'paulownia' or 'phoenix tree', zhuang 'a stake'. The bottom row reads; ?, ming 'song of a bird', su? 'stop and rest', chi 'eat a meal'.

Wooden cabinet with fine bone marquetry. Five wooden trays inside. Slide up front.

Synthetic tile set with a bird hovering over a globe. Very well engraved and crisp motifs on all tiles.

The top row reads; chen 'sink', yu 'fish', ? , yan 'wild goose'. The bottom row reads; bi 'obstruct', yue 'moon', ? , hua 'flower.

Leather Attache style Case.

The Flowers Depicting Human Figures in Motion.

Wooden cabinet for the tile set.