From page 156 in the September issue of British Vogue…and only £24,669!
BTW, that’s $38,716.76 in U.S. currency…
A closer look:
And speaking of British Vogue, how about this advertisement for an “embroidered Mahjongg suit” from a 1920s issue of the magazine – I like these prices much more than the price of that Mahjong set!
Back in April I posted photos of a number of Mah Jongg sets created by design houses such as Hermes, Cartier, Donna Karen, Louis Vuitton, etc. Well, a new designer of Mah Jongg sets may be poised to enter the scene and all of that will be thanks to none other than Julia Roberts (who was taught the game by Los Angeles teacher and collector extraordinaire, Johni Levene). JR is apparently over the moon about our beloved game and, as the newest ambassador of Givenchy, she has asked them to design a set for her. In fact, she discusses her love of the game in this excerpt from her interview with Joe Zee, the Editor in Chief of Yahoo Style:
I was checking out some Pinterest pinnings when I happened upon this circa 1930 Hermès Mah Jongg set with an interesting description written below it. I thought you might enjoy this:
“…and when i thought i’ve seen it all, there comes the special order chinese mahjong set circa the 1930’s. my yahoo translator tells me the tiles were made from mahogany tree and fawn-coloured leather, and something in bone and ivory too. i mean, which opium den owner commissioned this exceptional piece, and whose unfilial descendants are selling it now? this unusual lot has an estimate of €1,500 – €2,000. that’s a lot of mahjong money i say.”
Author unknown
Mah Jongg and Me 