Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 1989-0011-0001   CAS 1989-0011-0001; Mahjong set
Category Carvings; Tools & Implements
Object Name Mahjong set
Culture
Global Region East Asia
Country China
State/Prov./Dist.
County
Other Geographic Data
Maker's Name
Date of Manufacture ca. 1923
Collection Name N/A
Materials Case: Wood; Metal; Stain; Tiles: Bamboo; Ivory; Ink; Counters, dice and disks: Ivory or bone
Description Mahjong set of ivory and bamboo tiles with ivory or bone counters, disks and dice; Set is housed in a wooden case with double metal handles on the top; Front panel of case opens by sliding up and off; Case contains five drawers with metal pulls which house the set; Inscribed on the front of the case is the word “Peacock” (in Chinese) and “Made in China” (in English); A small instruction booklet is tucked inside the case, titled “Standard Rules and Regulations for the Game of Lung Chen by George S. Romanovsky, Copyright by Lung Chen Company 1923”; The booklet has extensive notes about the game written in pencil inside the back cover; The mahjong set and booklets from this accession (CAS 1989-0011-0001 and CAS 1989-0011-0002) were from the Hannan house, which was used as a residence for the Director of the California Academy of Sciences in the 1930s.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 15.7, Width = 16.2, Length = 23.6