OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

Chinese Tiger Forks

Many years ago in the KWANGSI and KWANTUNG provinces, huge numbers of tigers roamed the forests but were slowly driven back deeper into the forests, as civilisation advanced. Similar tridents to mine were used, with handles about 2½ mts long.
The central prong is about 4 inches longer than the 2 prongs at the end of each crescent.
All points are very sharp steel.

Most of the Chinese Tiger Forks I have seen illustrated on the Internet are quite modern in appearance.
There is an antique example very similar to mine illustrated on page 10 of John Bedford's book, 'The Collecting Man' published by Macdonald & Co Ltd in 1968.

Each 3 pronged fork is 25 inches long and 17 inches from one crescent point to the other.
There is a strong brass collar around the top of the hollow steel shaft, which would take the handle or staff.

I bought these 2 forks or tridents in the 1960's, together with many other interesting items of Middle and Far Eastern origin, all packed into a huge tea-chest.
The sale was at Coe's Auction Rooms, South Kensington, London in 1969.

I have these forks hanging on our cottage verandah and nearly every visitor asks about them !