PROBABLY MADE FOR TIPU SULTAN, MYSORE, LATE 18TH CENTURY

Details

A SWORD WITH A TIGER-HEAD HILT
PROBABLY MADE FOR TIPU SULTAN, MYSORE, LATE 18TH CENTURY
The curved single-edged European blade with thick forte, the cast brass hilt with the rain-guard in the form of a tiger's head with raised ears and engraved stripes, the quillons in the form of smaller tiger's heads with closely related engraving, the faceted grip with another tiger's head at the pommel with the mouth open bearing its teeth and tongue, distinctive raised eyes and proud nose, the curved knuckle guard also decorated with a tiger head and a engraved chevron pattern on the exterior, the two larger tiger-heads at the base and top of the hilt each with raised collars around the neck, minor casting faults
34½in. (87.8cm.) long

Sale room notice

Please note that the blade on this sword is Indian and not European as noted in the catalogue.

Brought to you by

Andrew Butler-Wheelhouse

abutler@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2196

Lot Essay

A sword with a hilt very similar in form though fashioned of heavily gilt copper is at Powis Castle (Mildred Archer, Christopher Rowell and Robert Skelton, Treasures from India. The Clive Collection at Powis Castle, London, 1987, no.33, pp.46-47). That example has an inscription on the blade which gives the name of Tipu Sultan. The ‘bubri’ or tiger-stripe motif, that we see here decorating our hilt, was adopted by Tipu as his personal emblem. It is found on the Powis sword, and a small number of other examples closely associated with the ruler.

It is likely that this sword was taken as booty after Tipu Sultan was killed during the storming of the fortress of Seringapatam by the British in May 1799. A very similar sword recently sold at Sotheby’s, Arts of Imperial India, 9 October 2013, lot 249.

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