During the second half of the 19th Century, when the British Empire was at the height of its prosperity, wealthy Victorians enjoyed a penchant for extravagance and for the exotic.
This unique set of cutlery will date from this period, I suspect about 1880, and would likely have found its place in a large house whose owners were partial to the hunt, and to fabulous hunting parties.
The set consists of 12 knives with pottery handles in the shape of horses' legs with shod feet, and 12 forks with pottery handles in the shape of fox tails or fox brushes.
I have never encountered a set like this, and suspect it is a rare survivor.
There are no makers' marks.
The knives are 22.5 cm long, and the forks are 18.6 cm long.
Excellent antique condition, the cutlery looks to have only enjoyed occasional use. Just very light scratches to the blades and tines. Just one knife handle has wear to the glaze adjacent to the ferrule, see last photograph, but otherwise there are no cracks, chips nor repairs to the handles. The interior of the case is very clean but the exterior has plenty of scratches and marks, and the brass cartouche to the lid is very badly scratched. There is no key for the lock.
This is a superb antique; one of a kind, in unusually original condition.