WINSLOW 1920
MAH JONGG TILE SET
Inspired by the visual language of early American Mah Jongg, the Winslow 1920 Tile Set from Walden General and Ozark Mah Jongg is a contemporary design created with deep respect for the game's past. Rather than a reproduction, Winslow is a thoughtful interpretation, blending classic sensibilities with a modern playing experience.
Every detail was designed with intention, balancing tradition, playability, and clarity at the table.
Tile Size: approximately 1" | 1.43" | 0.5" Individual Tile Weight: 12 grams
Our racks are crafted from beechwood, a superior choice over common pine. Beech’s strength and straight, fine grain make it far less prone to warping, ensuring your racks stay true for years of play.
Purchasing & Packaging Details
Winslow 1920 is available in several configurations, allowing you to choose how your tiles are stored and shipped. Below is a clear overview of what to expect with each option.
Tile Set Only
When purchased on its own, the Winslow 1920 tile set ships without a case, packed securely in a simple, recyclable cardboard box. This option is ideal for players who already have a preferred storage solution or wish to minimize packaging.
Tile Set with Acrylic Case
When purchased with the custom acrylic drawered case, the tile set ships inside the acrylic drawers. The case is designed for both storage and display and replaces the need for additional packaging.
Tile Set with Vegan Leather Travel Case with Trays
When purchased with the vegan leather travel case, the tiles are packaged inside the travel case, which is built to protect and organize the set for transport and storage.
Tile Set with Ozark Bird Bag
When purchased with the Ozark Bird Bag, the tiles ship inside the storage bag.
The Winslow Navy Mat combines beauty and practicality, creating an elegant backdrop for every game night.
Item Pricing
ITEM
PRICE
Winslow 1920 Tile Set w/ Acrylic Case
Winslow 1920 Tile Set Only
Tiles + Ozark Bird Bag
Tiles + Acrylic Case
Tiles + Vegan Leather Travel Case
Beechwood Racks + Storage Bag
Vegan Leather Travel Case + Trays
Winslow Navy Mat
$575
$475
$520
$575
$625
$125
$150
$75
Accessories & Add-Ons
Custom Acrylic Drawered Case: The Winslow 1920 acrylic case features sliding drawers and a clear, display-ready design inspired by vintage storage solutions. Durable and reusable, it offers a long-term alternative to disposable packaging and provides easy access at the table.
Beechwood Racks & Storage Bag: These 19-inch beechwood racks are sized specifically for the larger Winslow 1920 tiles and include integrated magnetic pushers. Finished in a walnut-toned stain with a clear coat, they are paired with a handmade cotton duck storage bag featuring four stitched pockets to protect each rack during transport or storage.
Sold separately.
British Vintage Tan PU Leather Travel Case: This structured PU leather travel case, finished in vintage British tan, holds four matching trays in a faux suede-lined interior. Designed for compact storage and safe transport, it keeps tiles protected and organized between games.
Sold separately. Includes four trays.
Winslow Navy Mat: Printed on soft, low-pile chenille with a non-slip backing, the Winslow Navy Mat is machine washable and easy to store. The crane motif, adapted from a 1968 silk scarf gifted to our mother, adds warmth and heritage to a clean, playable surface. Each mat ships in a clear, zippered bag with a top strap for transport or hanging storage.
Sold separately.
The Winslow 1920 Travel Case, crafted in vintage-inspired British tan PU leather with plush faux suede interior, offers elegant protection and organization for your mahjong essentials.
HISTORY & INSPIRATION
The Bams
The Bam suit is widely understood to trace its origins to depictions of strings of coins, once carried by Chinese merchants for trade and safekeeping. Over time, as mahjong's visual language evolved, these forms became increasingly stylized, eventually taking on the bamboo imagery familiar today. This shift is commonly associated with the game's early 20th-century export period, when symbolic references were simplified for carving and broader production. In the Winslow 1920 set, each Bam features an infinity knot motif, inspired by traditional Chinese symbolism. Often referred to as the endless knot, this symbol is associated with continuity, balance, and enduring good fortune. While uncommon, similar knot motifs have appeared on select early hand-carved tiles, and we reference them here as a visual and symbolic touchstone rather than a direct replication. The Winslow One Bam draws on the long-standing convention of featuring a bird on the first tile of the Bam suit. While sparrows are most often seen, cranes are a well-established Chinese symbol of longevity and virtue. Our design was inspired by a vintage crane illustration by Art Nouveau-era artist A. Smit, which we reinterpreted with original detailing and coloring to align with the overall tone and palette of the Winslow 1920 set.
The Dots
The Dots suit, also known as Circles, is commonly understood to reference early representations of Chinese currency. Circular in form, these tiles are often associated with traditional copper coins, which have long carried symbolic meaning related to wealth, unity, and continuity in Chinese culture. In the Winslow 1920 set, each Dot is designed with this visual lineage in mind. The One Dot features a quadrant-centered design, using dots and linework inspired by patterns found on antique coins. Rather than serving as a direct reproduction, this structure is a contemporary interpretation intended to echo familiar motifs. This approach also creates a visual relationship between the Dots and the Bams. Both suits are widely associated with historical imagery connected to trade and exchange, and the Winslow designs reference that shared heritage through form and rhythm rather than strict historical replication.
The Craks
The Crak suit features the Chinese character for ten thousand (萬, Wàn), a symbol commonly associated with abundance and large sums. In many interpretations of the game's iconography, the three suits are understood as visually related: Dots referencing individual coins, Bams referencing strings of coins, and Craks representing ten thousand, often described as the equivalent of many strings of currency combined. This symbolic framework is frequently cited as part of mah jong's visual language, reflecting themes of prosperity and fortune rather than serving as a literal accounting system. In the Winslow 1920 set, each Crak tile is framed with subtle Art Deco–inspired borders. These details are a contemporary design choice, intended to blend classic forms with refined vintage styling while remaining consistent with the overall tone of the set.
The Flowers
Traditional mahjong sets often include four Season tiles and four Flower tiles, with imagery commonly associated with plants and the passage of time. In designing the eight Flower tiles used in American Mah Jongg, the Winslow 1920 set draws inspiration from classical Chinese seasonal imagery and artistic motifs, interpreted through a contemporary lens. Four tiles reference plants frequently associated with the seasons in Chinese visual culture: plum blossom (winter), orchid (spring), lotus (summer), and chrysanthemum (autumn). The remaining four tiles feature bamboo, plum, orchid, and chrysanthemum again, this time as symbols often linked to enduring qualities such as resilience, refinement, flexibility, and longevity. Throughout the artwork, a subtle red thread appears as a unifying detail. This element is inspired by the red thread of fate found in Chinese folklore, a symbol commonly used to represent connection and continuity and is incorporated here as a quiet visual motif rather than a literal narrative.
The Jokers
The Winslow 1920 Joker features a Laughing Buddha, a figure commonly associated with joy, abundance, and good fortune. Often understood as a symbol of contentment and generosity, he appears frequently in homes and cultural imagery across East Asia. The pearls he holds are traditionally linked with wisdom and spiritual wealth. This symbol was chosen with care and respect. In the context of Winslow 1920, the Laughing Buddha reflects the joy, warmth, and lightness that the Joker brings to the table, honoring both the spirit of the game and the meaning the figure holds for many.
The Dragons
In traditional mah jongg terminology, the tiles commonly called "Dragons” in American play are often referred to as the Three Fundamental Tiles. In Chinese-language contexts, these tiles are associated with core concepts expressed through their characters. The English term "Dragons” is generally attributed to Joseph Babcock and was introduced during the game's early presentation to American audiences in the 1920s. • Red (中, zhōng) is commonly associated with ideas of centrality and balance, and in some interpretations is linked to sincerity or moral focus. • Green (發, fā) is frequently connected to prosperity, growth, or good fortune, and is often translated as "to prosper” or "to become wealthy.” • White (白, bái) originated as a blank tile. Often called "Soap” in American Mah Jongg, it has been interpreted in various ways, including associations with clarity or purity, though its meaning has evolved across regions and eras. In the Winslow 1920 set, the Dragon tiles feature the traditional Chinese characters rendered in clean, classic forms. The design choice was intentional, favoring restraint and legibility over decorative reinterpretation, and allowing the characters themselves to anchor the tiles within the broader visual language of the game.
Common Questions
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07