Anyone from India or with Indian heritage who might know what this is that I've found in my parents in law's house?

[SirChenjins]

We're clearing it out as the estate is being wound up and came across this. No idea what it is (it's about an inch square) or why they might have it - FIL was stationed in Penang at one point, but that doesn't really explain it 🤷‍♀️

Hi (again!) - that’s a pretty cool thing you have there. Metal will be either pewter or silver - worth a buff. Were your PILs related to the Nizam, or work for him/his family? Worth some research if so! That’s the lineage of the Hyderabadi (basically) royal family. Not quite, but near enough. The history of that family and its connection to the British Empire is really interesting. Def worth a google and if you can manage it some deeper research. I’m not sure re any Penang connection, though.

Hi again! 😊 No, nothing linking them - both from the UK, although he was in the RAF for many years. It's a lovely item, but DH has no idea what it is or why his parents had it.

It’s basically memorabilia of the sort you get in the Buckingham Palace gift shop. Someone, somewhere will have bought that as a momento. It’s very much from a bygone era. The RAF connection is probably it. And maybe during the posting to Penang. What a shame your PILs aren’t around to ask!

I know - it's one of those things I wish I could have asked them when they were still alive. Interesting to think it's a momento from someone's travels somewhere - I wonder who?! We'll never know.