How can you tell if a mahjong set is ivory?

Ivory is best identified by an expert, but there are some indicators of true ivory. Ivory has a visual “depth” not seen in bone. TEST: A visual inspection of ivory under strong light will usually reveal some of the tusk structure.

Why is mahjong banned in China?

Police in Yushan in southeast China first announced the ban at the weekend, saying it was to curb illegal gambling and “purify social conduct”. This led to shock and outrage with many calling the strategic, tile-based game the “quintessence of Chinese culture”.

How much is an ivory mahjong set worth?

Prices paid for some sets featuring ornate mahogany, walnut and ebony boxes containing painted, carved ivory or Bakelite tiles have ranged from $1,400 to $3,750 during the past several years. Many less exceptional sets can be purchased for $200 to $300.

What is my mahjong set worth?

The ebay price range on these bone and bamboo sets can go from under $100 for a thin boned set with simple carvings, to $200 for a set with a box and simple carvings on tiles about 25% bone, to between $300 and $400 for tiles with a nice box with interesting Flowers, even if the bone is only 50%.

Why is mahjong so expensive?

Why are American mahjong sets the most expensive? American mahjong sets have 166 tiles (Chinese sets only have 144) and include a set of racks to hold the tiles. More tiles, the addition of racks, and a larger box makes the entire set more expensive.

What should be in a mahjong set?

Contents. A set of Mahjong tiles will usually differ from place to place. It usually has at least 136 tiles (four copies of each of the Suit and Honor Tiles), most commonly 144, although sets originating from the United States or Southeast Asia will usually feature more tiles in the form of flowers or Jokers.

What are sticks used for in Mahjong?

From Mahjong Wiki, the mahjong encyclopedia Scoring Sticks (counting sticks, betting sticks, bones, tallies, counters, tenbo [点棒]) like chips, are used to keep score. Sticks have different number of spots which correspond to different denominations.