Mahjong Wanderlust – United States Theme

[Original Artpiece]

We are excited to launch our latest 2025 design! Enjoy a special discounted rate during our launch period until September 2026.

Discover the bold spirit and cultural vibrancy of the United States, where traditional mahjong artistry meets contemporary American iconography. In this unique mahjong set, each tile has been transformed to celebrate the landmarks, passions, and culinary delights of American life – making it a standout fusion of classic craftsmanship and modern design.

• Reimagines intangible cultural heritage by capturing iconic American elements in every meticulously crafted tile.
• When the master mahjong craftsman Ricky Cheung and illustrator Karen Aruba from two generations join creative forces, the game transcends its traditional role to become one-of-a-kind wall art that preserves the art of mahjong with a modern twist to preserve craftsmanship.
• Embark on a journey through the United States as each tile highlights memorable landmarks and cultural symbols:
  • The traditional bamboo suit is reinvented with baseball motifs, echoing America’s timeless love for the game.
  • The circle (dot) tiles are reinterpreted as classic American foods, celebrating the nation’s diverse culinary culture.
  • The “Wan” tiles proudly feature the majestic San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge.
  • On the dragon tiles, the dynamic energy of Wall Street pulses through the green dragon, while the red dragon embodies the enduring spirit of the Statue of Liberty. The white dragon is updated with state highway signage, symbolizing America’s expansive connectivity.
  • Floral and wind motifs capture myriad scenes from bustling urban centers to serene natural landscapes across the country.

• A complete set of 144 mahjong tiles (plus 4 blank tiles) showcases traditional patterns reimagined with inspiration from American landmarks and everyday icons.

Story Behind the Scene – A Family Collaboration with Creativity

Karen Aruba Art comes from a longstanding line of mahjong craftsmanship. Our intimate mahjong family story supports Hong Kong craftsmanship.

Inspired by the rich history of ancient mahjong design, this revamped series captures the dynamic culture of the United States. This collection bridges traditional mahjong craftsmanship with contemporary American art by integrating hand-carving, hand-painting, and fine laser engraving —ensuring every detail reflects both heritage and innovation.

To capture the authentic visuals accompanying this new mahjong design, Karen Aruba traveled to the US in 2024, bringing back the stunning photography featured here.

Understand how passionate we are to preserve the craftsmanship integrated with art and all articles we wrote: ‘A Mahjong Story’

Original Design & Production Lead Time

Mahjong Wanderlust is a series of collection with different location themes. This is to revitalize the artistic culture of mahjong.

The full set of 144 tiles (Hong Kong Style) involves 65% hand-carved original mahjong patterns brought to life by Master craftsman, 100% hand-painting, and extra new illustrated patterns designed by Karen Aruba, laser-engraved American-themed imagery.

Each set is an exclusive art piece, reflecting the human touch and artistic excellence that only on-demand production can provide.

All manual processes thus it is expected to take around 5-6 months in production + 10-14 days of international delivery. Thank you for your kind support to our work.

Product Description

1. Color at the back: Green
2. Size per mahjong tile: 2.7cm (W) x 3.7 cm (L) x 2.2cm (H)
3. Hong Kong version has 144 tiles OR American versions has 152 tiles, including 8 Jokers, with hand-carved numbering for Characters (pls note the size which is 22 mm thick)
4. Hand-carved patterns include: Characters 1 to 9（萬子), Three Dragons (中發白), Four Winds (東南西北), Eight Flowers/Seasons, Dots 2-9 (筒子) (optional: Arabic numbers on bamboo and circle tiles.)
5. One nice box in blue color, 4 additional blank tiles, wind indicators & dice
6. Materials: Highest quality of Japanese acrylic or A grade equivalent long lasting without color deterioration
7. Made-to-order on hand-carving, NO mass production, Minimum material wastage

Remark: Since the tiles are hand hand carved, we only offer tiles in 22mm thickness.

Authentication

Each set will come with a certificate of authenticity signed with a serial number.

Tax

VAT will be applied for shipping product to European Countries. Customer is responsible for any tax and custom duties subject to the rate of individual country at additional cost.

 

Optional Frame for Wall Art Display

Come with a beautiful box. We also offer an additional choice with a good quality custom-made wooden frame to hang this artpiece on wall to enhance your home living environment. Contact us in info@karenaruba.com .

Original Framed Size: 50.4cm x 29.6cm x 4cm

Each full set of mahjong weights 5.3kg. Make sure screws or hooks are secure enough to support the weight.

 

Watch the video of making process (Hong Kong Theme) 

Special Thanks:
Mah jongg: The Art of the Game, by Ann Israel and Gregg Swain