LONDON (TIP): A new sword belonging to Tipu Sultan has been discovered. Decorated with Tipu’s personal emblem, the bubri or tigerstripe motif, the sword will be sold by Sotheby’s in London on October 9. This comes nearly a decade after liquor baron Vijay Mallya bought Tipu Sultan’s sword and brought it back to India. The sword is fitted with an English blade and was taken as booty during the storming of the fortress of Seringapatam by the British in May 1799. It is estimated that the sword will fetch around £1,20,000. The sword is among the 11 works relating to Tipu Sultan including weaponry, prints, watercolours and portraits that is up for sale. Another of Tipu’s assets up for grabs is an 11-bore silver-mounted flintlock duck gun from the personal armoury of Tipu Sultan signed Sayyid Masum belonging to 1789. This is expected to fetch £80,000-1 ,00,000. A gem-studded gold dagger and scabbard belonging to the year 1700 will also be auctioned on October 9 and expected to fetch around £1,00,000. This dagger, overlaid with gold and set with rubies, emeralds and turquoise, embodies the prestige accorded to such weapons and the message of power that they conveyed as presentation pieces. To go along with it is a diamond-set and enamelled gold tray and casket from North India from the 18th Century. Sothebys said, “Covered with bright green enamel and set throughout with diamonds in the kundan technique , the creator of the present box and tray has conceived a masterful combination . The diamonds are carefully faceted to bring out the brilliance of each. Whereas jewelled examples exist, it is incredibly rare to find this shape. It is expected to fetch around £30,0,000.”
Another Tipu Sultan sword surfaces, to be auctioned
