Where Do All of These Vintage Mah-Jongg Sets Come From?
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering where all of these beautiful vintage mah-jongg tiles come from, you’re not alone. I get this question often—and I love answering it, because the story behind the tiles is just as meaningful as the jewelry I create from them.
Most of the mah-jongg tiles used in my bracelets come from older American mah-jongg sets, many of them dating back several decades. These were the sets found in living rooms, basements, card tables, and game nights—passed from hand to hand, used week after week, year after year. They were played, loved, and eventually tucked away when styles changed or games stopped being played.
During the mid-20th century, mah-jongg experienced a surge in popularity in the United States. Sets were made from materials like Bakelite, bone, and bamboo—materials that are no longer produced in the same way today. Over time, many of these sets became incomplete: a missing tile here, a cracked one there. Once a set could no longer be played, it was often stored away rather than discarded.
That’s where I come in.
I source vintage mah-jongg sets that can no longer be used for gameplay and give them a second life. I carefully take apart these retired sets and select tiles based on color, condition, and character. Each bracelet is then handcrafted, one at a time, using a very small number of tiles—preserving their history while transforming them into something new.
Because these materials are finite and no longer manufactured, every piece I make is truly limited edition. Once a particular color or tile style is gone, it’s gone for good. No two bracelets are exactly alike, and no design can ever be perfectly replicated.
To me, that’s part of the magic.
These tiles carry stories—of gatherings, friendships, traditions, and time spent together. Turning them into wearable pieces allows those stories to continue, just in a different form. My hope is that when you wear one of my bracelets, you’re not just wearing jewelry, but a small piece of history—meant to be worn, loved, and collected.
— Patty
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