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Mysore Ruler

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 Tipu tiger finial sells for Rs 3 cr  






At the Bonhams auction on October 7 in London, a gem-encrusted gold tiger finial from the throne of Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan sold for a whopping £434,400. The pre-auction estimate of the piece was £200,000-300,000. Incidentally, this is the second finial from Tipu's throne that went under the hammer. The previous filial was bought by Indian business tycoon Vijay Mallya for £389,600 in 2009.

Interestingly, Tipu Sultan had sworn not to mount his throne until he defeated the British. However, when he fell, his famous golden throne was broken up so that the elements could be shared. Many of the decorative pieces that adorned the throne have been lost but the ones that have been found are the pieces found with the British royalty, like Queen Charlotte the wife of George III, or the second Lady Clive.



Claire Penhallurick of Bonhams Indian and Islamic Department says: "It is an extraordinary privilege to be involved with the sales of a second wonderful finial from Tipu Sultan's throne. To sell one is amazing, but to have two in less than two years is almost unbelievable." Julian Roup, the director of press and marketing, says it has been sold to a buyer in the Middle East.


Set with rubies, diamonds and emeralds, the finial has a resin core and comes up to 17.5 centimetres in total height with its stand. The work's provenance goes back to Thomas Wallace, the first Baron of the Wallace family (1763-1844) of North Umberland. It was later in the possession of Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Bowser, K C B, H.E.I.C.S (1749-1833); and by descent to the present owners, a private Canadian family of Scottish origin.

 

 

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