Splendour: The Philippe Missillier Collection of Islamic & Indian Arms and Armour

Splendour: The Philippe Missillier Collection of Islamic & Indian Arms and Armour

View full screen - View 1 of Lot 56. An Impressive Elephant Goad (Ankus) from the Armoury of Tipu Sultan, South India, 18th Century.

An Impressive Elephant Goad (Ankus) from the Armoury of Tipu Sultan, South India, 18th Century

UK: Greenford Park Warehouse

Auction Closed

April 29, 12:32 PM GMT

Estimate

8,000 - 12,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

of typical form, the steel blades with elevated central ridge and reinforced tip, the larger with carved inscriptions on both sides, the head with bronze mounts in the form of a goddess riding a makara, and parrot, the haft with four bronze bands, one with small sculpture of cow attached, the pommel domed

74cm.

Philippe Missillier Collection no.44C

Robert Hales, Islamic and Oriental Arms and Armour: A Lifetime’s Passion, London: Robert Hales C.I. Ltd, 2013, p.366, no.899 (illustrated)

The inscription in Kannada script on the blade indicates that the ankus came from the armoury of Sri Krishnaraja Wodeyar III (r.1799-1868), Maharaja of Mysore, which he took over following the defeat of Tipu Sultan at Seringapatam in 1799 (Hales 2013, p.366).