Mahjong, a Chinese parlor game, arrived in the United States in the 1920s and captivated America. Players at game tables across the country were suddenly rolling dice, stirring bone tiles, and calling out “pung!” “chow!” and “mahjong!” instead of “gin.”

In this encore presentation, four avid mahjong players and vintage set collectors will introduce the basics of how to play the game, describe what fueled the game's popularity initially and at midcentury, and share its history and cultural impact over the last one hundred years. We will explore the glorious material history of the game from the highly collectible hand-carved bone and bamboo sets, midcentury Bakelite game pieces, to elaborate rosewood storage boxes from the game's heyday. The presentation will also include a “how-to” on getting started playing mahjong in your community.

The game is currently enjoying a renaissance thanks in part to shout-outs from regular players Julia Roberts and Sarah Jessica Parker, as well as the game appearing in television shows such as The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and films such as Crazy Rich Asians. Share your own family's mahjong story during the Q & A!

Presenters: Lise Baadh: mahjong instructor, enthusiast, and community builder; Juli Cavnar: mahjong devotee, and the granddaughter who inherited the favorite Bakelite set; Rob Ollander-Krane: mahjong Mama's Boy; Anne Rowe, mahjong addict & Director of Heritage at Sunnylands, Rancho Mirage.