Meet the Mahjong Mavens of Rhode Island

Photography by Angel Tucker

Edited by JAMIE COELHO • Photography by ANGEL TUCKER • Location: Gardiner House, Newport

The Gilded Birds is a group of four women brought together by a shared passion for mahjong. East Greenwich residents Julie McKenna Alavian, Aili Calore, Erica Cohen and Lauren Hedde bonded over the game and decided to make a monthly social gathering out of it. They host events at local hotels and restaurants — and even an upcoming weekend retreat Jan. 23–25 at Gardiner House (pictured) in Newport — while connecting the game’s history to Newport’s Gilded Age, a time when mahjong was mastered in the grand mansions by the sea. The Gilded Birds offer instructional sessions, private events, and corporate and wedding affairs to help grow and welcome new players into the mahjong community. Follow @thegildedbirds on Instagram and at thegildedbirds.com. Learn more about Gardiner House at gardinerhouse.com.

Above: The Gilded Birds play mahjong in the art-filled Studio Bar at Gardiner House, which is open to the public for cocktails and snacks. Board details: The Royal Mahjong Society’s Newport Set and Mat, theroyalmahjongsociety.com. Bam Bird Boutique tortoise shell glass snack bowls, bambirdboutique.com. Charcuterie board provided by Graze on Main, an intimate wine bar/restaurant in East Greenwich. Order a platter for your game or sip Champagne at its charming wine bar with cheese, charcuterie and small plates. grazeonmaineg.com.

Mahjong History

The Gilded Birds enjoy waterfront views in the Gardiner House’s Gardiner Ballroom, perfect for private events. Photography by Angel Tucker

The tile game of mahjong originated in China during the mid-19th century. It was brought to America by Chinese immigrants in the early 20^th century and gained popularity with the American upper classes during the early 1920s when the Mahjong Sales Company started importing and selling mahjong sets from China. In 1920, American businessman Joseph Babcock published Mah Jongg: The Game of a Thousand Puzzles, a rulebook that outlined an Americanized version of the game. The Americanized version of mahjong became a favorite pastime amongst the socially elite in major cities as well as Newport, where families who had risen to prominence during the Gilded Age played mahjong in their “summer cottages.” Julia Berwind, owner of the Elms Mansion in Newport, was a mahjong enthusiast and held mahjong social gatherings in her conservatory.

Four Seasons

The tiles of American mahjong reflect seasonality through imagery of flowers, and the winds of change represented in the East, West, North and South tiles. Each set can be unique and is an opportunity to showcase personal style. Mats and racks can be mixed and matched or coordinated with the colors and textures of a home.

Erica Cohen (standing) of the Gilded Birds with her vintage mahjong set. Board details: Oh My Mahjong Limoncello tiles, tortoise shell rack and pusher set, ohmymahjong.com. Drydiet pink floral mat, Amazon. Photography by Angel Tucker

Vintage Set

Erica Cohen (standing) of the Gilded Birds with her vintage mahjong set. Photograph courtesy of Erica Cohen.

Erica Cohen’s vintage mahjong tiles once belonged to her husband’s great-aunt, Mimi. For decades, Mimi played mahjong with her three sisters, beginning in the 1960s at a New Jersey swim club, where they gathered daily with blankets, suntan oil and Mimi’s signature briefcase of tiles. They played for hours each summer afternoon, surrounded by family and laughter.

Mahjong was also a tradition in Cohen’s own family. Her grandmother, Elaine Renée Davidson, played weekly. Mahjong nights were a cherished social escape for women in the 1960s. Erica’s mother, Michelle Furman, continued the tradition in the 1980s and still plays with her community today.

When Mimi passed away, her briefcase was found — filled with her beloved tiles. The family immediately knew Erica was the one who would treasure them most. Now a third-generation mahjong player, Erica uses Mimi’s tiles to teach the game to her own children and share her love of mahjong with families across Rhode Island.