Info required on small knife and fork set

[Ian Crouch]

Can anyone help me with any information on the attached items. So far I believe they are mid to late 19th century, Indian and made for the tourist trade. Should this be the case, I guess their value is minimal?

Can anyone confirm this or add any further details.

Kind regards
Ian

[colin henshaw]

Very unusual indeed - they certainly look Indian especially with that Kashmiri painted work. I would guess early-mid 20th century, perhaps meant for actual use as a table carving knife and fork. Might have been intended for sale to European colonials ?

Just a guess.

[Atlantia]

The more common form for these is carved wood, not painted. But you do see the painted ones occasionally.
There are several 'shapes' available. With the one you have being IMHO the most attractive. Often they are straight with a handle at each end and little brass feet. Sometimes they are shaped as a fish with the head and tail being the hilts of the fork and carver.
Always have the spring locks.
Indian. 50s-80s. (mostly) Yours look to be earlier in that timeframe IMHO.

Heres a more common type

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c59/Battlestar_Atlantia/indiancarvingset.jpg