Mah jongg is a Chinese game played with tiles. See the Mah Jongg Tiles Slideshow below.

The National Mah Jongg League in New York determines the rules of the game in the American version. In its authoritative position now for 73 years, the League also determines the number and kind of tiles. There are 152 tiles in the current mah jongg game.
What are vintage mah jongg tiles made of ?

In the 1950s when my mother first played mah jongg, the tiles were made of catalin or bakelite. Both were the very earliest thermoplastic materials, made from a mixture of carbolic acid and formaldehyde. With age, tiles made of bakelite turn the color of butterscotch, while catalin tiles grow pale yellow. 

My mother’s mah jongg set is the aged, now butterscotch-colored tiles made from bakelite. The set was made in New York City by the New York Manufacturing Company, the purveyors of mah jongg sets for the craze that swept the Northeast in the 50s. 

Daughters of mah jongg-playing women, by the thousands, have their mother’s mah jongg sets as the antiques they now are. Across the country and across the world, current players want to know where vintage mah jongg tiles were made and what they’re made of. Like gemstones in the family, they have a history.

Other materials

Mah jongg tiles can be made from a host of other materials, including bone (from cow shins or fish), ivory, wood, bamboo, vinyl plastics, and rarely from jade. That makes all mah jongg tiles gemstones in my book!

Sometimes the materials are combined, appearing in several layers in a single tile. Some are old, some are new, but all are beautiful and say something different to different players.

Current designs

Mah jongg tiles manufactured in recent times combine the durability of plastics with the design possibilities of textured and brightly colored materials.

The face of each tile should show the character clearly. As such, the face of the tile usually has a white or ivory background, although there are completely black mah jongg tiles available today. Yes, the face of the black tile can be somewhat hard to see during play.

But tiles are often face down during the game, allowing some artistry to be seen on the top of the tiles. This is where a layer of alternative material creates excitement in mah jongg tile design. Top layers can include glitter, stripes, basketweave patterns, floral designs, all in bright interesting colors. All are designed to attract players to the game and covet thy neighbor's new tiles enough to buy a new set for yourself!

The gems of tomorrow

Mah jongg tiles often appear in jewelry, especially vintage tiles from incomplete sets. Designers recognize the potential for mah jongg tiles to be used as gemstones.   Creative design can make mah jongg tiles into earrings, necklaces, pendants and bracelets, attracting a market consisting of every woman who plays. 

For me, the new designs in mah jongg tiles expand the repertoire of gemstones in my jewelers lapidary collection. When I’m gone, my mah jongg tiles more likely will show up in jewelry than be used to play the game.

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Lorraine Yapps Cohen