A Chinese ‘trousse’ (eating set), comprising a knife and two chopsticks. This type of sets was very common in china and in all the countries under the Chinese influence from Tibet to Mongolia. It was part of a man formal dress up to the turn of the 20th century and usually accompanied with a variety of accessories like pickle spear, toothpicks, tweezers and the like. Similar sets are found in various sizes and quality. Such sets were quite rare and only recently with the liberalization in China, start to appear in the Western world. This one is of a good quality. The blade is 7 ½ inches long, forged from laminated steel with hardened edge and signed with Chinese characters. The grips are black horn rivetd to the tang with eight brass rivets and set with ivory pommel and bolsters. The scabbard is wood covered with blackened and polished ray skin. The chopsticks are ivory. There is a compartment for two ivory toothpicks at the rear side of the scabbard (one is missing). Very good condition. Minor blackened areas on the blade and a very small piece of rayskin missing at the tip of the scabbard. One of the ivory bolsters is replaced. It is offered here at a very attractive price, considering its age and quality.