Mahjong has gone from proletarian to posh thanks to the new LV Mahjong Set (louisvuitton.com): 148 bone- and-bamboo tiles, each hand-painted with Chinese characters and emblems interwoven with the Louis Vuitton logo. Designed in consultation with mahjong masters from around the world, the set comes with a monogrammed, easy-to-pack case on which a peacock—the Chinese symbol of beauty, always pictured on the first mahjong tile of any game—takes pride of place.
Originally appeared in the April 2009 print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Gypsy Tales: Tony Tiles”)