A VERY RARE BRONZE SMALL HILT FOR A CHILD'S SWORD, ALMOST CERTAINLY INTENDED FOR A PRINCE OF SERINGAPATAM, MYSORE, CIRCA 1790-95

cast in one piece, comprising a pair of short quillons with bulbous terminals, a pair of slender langets between, faceted grip shaped for the hand, tiger's head pommel formed in the round, set with red gems for the eyes and a tongue protruding between snarling jaws, profusely decorated with delicate bubri patterns on a contrasting punched matted ground, retaining traces of original gilding, and the tiger's teeth retaining their original silvered finish (the langets subsequently pierced for a transverse bolt, presumably for fitting a later blade)

CATALOGUE NOTE

Following the successful campaign led by Lord Cornwallis against Seringapatam early in 1792, the Treaty of Madras (ratified on 26th February) concluded the Third Mysore War. The treaty exacted substantial reparations against Tipu Sultan and in addition, two of his sons, Abal Khaliq (10) and Muiz-ud-Din (8) were taken as hostages. The princes were received into the personal care of Lord Cornwallis and a series of mutual presentations of gifts ensued, including a fine Persian sword to Cornwallis. The lavish and stately reception of the princes was recorded by a number of leading British artists, the breeding and dignity of the princes having evidently captured the public imagination. Among the best known of these works are the painting by Robert Home, Madras, circa 1793-4, now in the National Army Museum, Chelsea and that of Mather Brown, in the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle.

In contrast, Lady Clive in an anecdotal account of the life and times of Tipu Sultan recorded that following his capture in 1799, another of the princes, Fath Haidar, enlivened his captivity with acts of gratuitous cruelty. These included 'having a dog or a horse rubbed with gunpowder and then set on fire' (original Mss. Powis Castle Archive, Lady Clive's Diary, 15th March, 1800).