Tiles by era
Explore modern and vintage American mahjong tiles, including decade views for tiles whose estimated production ranges cross collecting eras.
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Vintage
Vintage American tiles are the catalin, Bakelite, and mid-century plastic tiles many players inherited. Brands are often unknown and dates are ranges, and the racks, cases, and tile colors make each one distinctive.
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Modern
Modern tiles come from a fast-growing group of American brands who release new lines and colorways every season. Acrylic and melamine lead, with limited drops, collaborations, and seasonal tiles that collectors watch for.
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1940s
Tiles dated to the 1940s sit across wartime disruption and the postwar transition toward American-made plastics. Broad date ranges are common, so tile composition, carving, brand marks, and accompanying racks deserve more weight than a single stylistic clue.
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1950s
The 1950s brought widespread American play, changing joker counts, and highly collectible plastic tiles. Catalin, molded tiles, matching racks, and fitted carrying cases are frequent value and identification drivers.
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1960s
By the 1960s, mass-produced plastic tiles and portable vinyl cases were common in American homes. Joker composition, typography, molding, racks, and brand labels help separate everyday tiles from scarcer variants.
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1970s
Tiles that extend into the 1970s often reflect mature mass-market American production: injection-molded tiles, standardized accessories, and practical carrying cases. Complete contents and original racks or cases remain important catalog details.