Antique Chinese Mahjong Set in Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Cabinet
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A Chinese timber cased mahjong set, circa 1900, in a metal trimmed Mother-of-pearl inlaid oriental cabinet with a sliding front and small drawers, with 144 tiles in bone and bamboo, sticks, counters and shungi tokens (apparently complete), in good condition as catalogued, height: 17.5 cm length: 25.5 cm width: 18 cm
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- Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
- Mother-Of-Pearl - Mother-of-pearl, technical name "nacre", is the inner layer of a sea shell. The iridescent colours and strength of this material were widely used in the nineteenth century as an inlay in jewellery, furniture, (especially papier mache furniture) and musical instruments.
In the early 1900s it was used to make pearl buttons. Mother-of-pearl is a soft material that is easily cut or engraved.
Nowadays it is a by-product of the oyster, freshwater pearl mussel and abalone industries.
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