China, late Qing dynasty (1644-1912) - Republic period (1912-1949). The eating set comprises a pair of bone chopsticks, bone file and tooth pick, a knife with pale celadon jadeite handle and gilt repousse mounts, all fitted into a lacquered wood scabbard with repousse mounts and inset with a coral cabochon.

Condition: Good condition, some wear, small repairs to the scabbard and file finial, fine natural age cracks.
Provenance: Czech private collection.

Weight: 132 g
Dimensions: Length 30.5 cm

The origin of the trousse known as "Chinese eating set" is most probably Manchuria, and it penetrated the Chinese world with the reign of the Manchu Qing dynasty. From the 18th century onwards similar sets spread all over the area under Chinese influence from Tibet to Mongolia to Japan and Korea.