An 11-bore silver-mounted flintlock duck gun from the personal armoury of Tipu Sultan, signed Sayyid Ma'sum, Patam, dated Mawludi year 1218 (1789-90)

with English long russet twist barrel swamped at the muzzle, retaining its silver 'spider' fore-sight and gold vent, inlaid with sprays of silver foliage and gold flowerheads enclosing the Seringapatam maker's signature, date and place of manufacture and a talismanic 'Haydar' square all inscribed in gold at the base of the breech, inlaid with a central silver linear panel framing a Persian quatrain and tapering to a loop finial enclosing a gold tiger, and the English proof marks and maker's mark now erased, also retaining the original English breech tang and lock, the latter fitted with safety-catch and roller, now signed, dated and inscribed with a 'Haydar' talismanic square in gold, and the cock chiselled in the form of a bubri with tiger's head jaws chiselled in the round, with moulded figured hardwood half-stock carved in low relief, decorated with a pair of bubri-shaped plantain leaves conjoined with a palmette about the breech tang, a small plantain moulding about the trigger-guard finial, and the butt carved with a further palmette trailing leafy tendrils and forming the starting point of a characteristic volute sweeping around the base of the comb, silver mounts cast in low relief, decorated in the Neo-English fashion and incorporating small designs of foliage in the Southern India taste, including butt-plate, trigger-guard with pineapple finial, and four moulded ramrod-pipes, the forward three characteristically very short, horn fore-end cap, and original iron ramrod slotted for fitting a transverse bar

The Indian Heritage, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1982, cat. no.466, p.139

 Robin Wigington, op.cit., 1992, TR4, pp.49-51.

In general good condition, the cock with a professional early repair, the mainspring cracked, the inscribed date perhaps a later addition, one replaced sling-swivel, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

inscriptions

On the barrel:
tofang-e bi-nazir-e khosraw-e hend
ke bashad barq-e suzan thani-ye u
tavanad sar-nevesht-e khasm bar-dasht
hadaf gardad agar pishani-ye u

"The peerless gun of the Emperor of India
To which the forked lightning is second
Can seal the fate of the enemy
If [the enemy's] forehead is made the target"

Place of manufacture Patam, and maker's name Sayyid Ma'sum
Dated in the Mawludi year 1218/1789-90
The talismanic square with the letters H/Y/D/R for 'Haydar'

On the lock: place of manufacture Patam, and maker's name Sayyid Ma'sum, dated in the Mawludi year 1218/1789-90

The talismanic square with the letters H/Y/D/R for Haydar.