{"product_id":"vintage-japanese-mahjong-set-hand-carved-bone-tiles-display-collectible","title":"Vintage Japanese Mahjong Set, Hand-Carved Bone Tiles, Display Collectible","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThis is a complete vintage Japanese mahjong (麻雀) set, its tiles hand-carved and hand-painted with bone faces backed in bamboo, each pair joined by a fine dovetail joint — a traditional construction method from before mahjong tiles were mass-produced in plastic, and a set as suited to display as to play.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eCultural \u0026amp; historical narrative\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMahjong arrived in Japan from China in the early 20th century and quickly became a defining pastime of the Taishō and early Shōwa eras, played in cafes, private clubs, and homes across the country. Before celluloid and later plastic became the industry standard from roughly the 1930s onward, quality tiles were made by hand from cattle bone laminated onto a bamboo back — bone for its ability to hold fine, sharp carving and hand-painted color, bamboo for durability at a more reasonable cost than solid bone or ivory. The two materials were joined with a fine dovetail joint running down the tile's spine, a small but telling mark of pre-plastic craftsmanship. Beyond the standard suits, this set includes individually hand-painted bonus tiles — an ikebana-style floral arrangement, a crane standing among rocks, and a whimsical cat — each rendered as its own small scene rather than a repeated stock image, the kind of individual variation that makes a well-preserved vintage set as compelling to display as to play with.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAttribution note\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMaterial confirmed as bone (likely cattle bone), verified by the porous, mottled marrow-cavity texture visible in cross-section — clearly distinct from the fine, regular cross-hatched Schreger lines characteristic of ivory. No maker's mark identified on the tiles; wooden box exterior carries characters not yet confidently read [bổ sung nếu chụp lại được rõ hơn].\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eCare + closing\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStore away from direct sunlight and humidity, which can affect both bone and bamboo over time; wipe with a soft, dry cloth only. A tactile centerpiece for a Japan vintage decor collection, equally at home on display or in play, for collectors of hand-carved bone craft and East Asian game history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chikoyaki","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50533355421775,"sku":"CKY-MJG-001","price":300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0667\/6588\/1423\/files\/IMG_8697_result.jpg?v=1790346382","url":"https:\/\/chikoyaki.com\/products\/vintage-japanese-mahjong-set-hand-carved-bone-tiles-display-collectible","provider":"Chikoyaki","version":"1.0","type":"link"}