Splendour: The Philippe Missillier Collection of Islamic Arms and Armour 

the armoured kaftan of padded red velvet with green velvet lining enclosing an inner coat of chain mail, the headdress of padded and reinforced red velvet over canvas and leather, the brow band of green velvet similarly constructed

the armoured kaftan of padded red velvet with green velvet lining enclosing an inner coat of chain mail, the headdress of padded and reinforced red velvet over canvas and leather, the brow band of green velvet similarly constructed 127cm.

View 1 of Lot 64: A Kaftan and Headdress from the Court of Tipu Sultan, India, Mysore, late 18th Century

a kaftan and headdress from the court of tipu sultan, india, mysore, late 18th century

Arts of the Islamic World and India, including Fine Rugs and Carpets

with curved single-edged damascus steel blade, the gilt hilt with faceted grip, chiselled and engraved with pelage and bubri motifs on a matt ground, the slender langets with trefoil terminals, a tapering cross-guard with button terminals engraved with floral rosettes, a scrolling knuckle-guard terminating in a peacock-head with ruby-set eyes, the tiger-head pommel with teeth bared and ruby-set eyes, the cloth-covered wood scabbard with gilt mounts engraved with further bubri motifs and two suspension rings

with curved single-edged damascus steel blade, the gilt hilt with faceted grip, chiselled and engraved with pelage and bubri motifs on a matt ground, the slender langets with trefoil terminals, a tapering cross-guard with button terminals engraved with floral rosettes, a scrolling knuckle-guard terminating in a peacock-head with ruby-set eyes, the tiger-head pommel with teeth bared and ruby-set eyes, the cloth-covered wood scabbard with gilt mounts engraved with further bubri motifs and two suspension rings 84cm. blade 96cm. with hilt and scabbard

View 1 of Lot 95: An important gilt-mounted sword with ruby eyes and scabbard from Tipu Sultan's armoury, India, Seringapatam, circa 1782-99

an important gilt-mounted sword with ruby eyes and scabbard from tipu sultan's armoury, india, seringapatam, circa 1782-99

Arts of the Islamic World & India

the steel barrel formed in two stages with moulded and gilt girdle, belled towards the muzzle, finely decorated with silver and gold inlay including a Persian quatrain, maker's signature, date, and place of manufacture, with 'Haydar' control mark, the bubri-shaped tang inscribed with magic number, the lockplate and its full external complement of parts all cut in bubri-form, with 'Haydar' control mark, with gold inlaid maker's signature, date and place of manufacture, and unusually elaborate 'Haydar' magic square in two colours of gold, the cock sculpted in the form of a tiger, the walnut stock carved with bubri motifs, with silver mounts struck with 'Haydar' control marks, the butt-plate engraved with the tiger cypher of Tipu Sultan, original iron sling-swivels and ramrod

the steel barrel formed in two stages with moulded and gilt girdle, belled towards the muzzle, finely decorated with silver and gold inlay including a Persian quatrain, maker's signature, date, and place of manufacture, with 'Haydar' control mark, the bubri-shaped tang inscribed with magic number, the lockplate and its full external complement of parts all cut in bubri-form, with 'Haydar' control mark, with gold inlaid maker's signature, date and place of manufacture, and unusually elaborate 'Haydar' magic square in two colours of gold, the cock sculpted in the form of a tiger, the walnut stock carved with bubri motifs, with silver mounts struck with 'Haydar' control marks, the butt-plate engraved with the tiger cypher of Tipu Sultan, original iron sling-swivels and ramrod 101.3 cm.

View 1 of Lot 224: A silver-mounted flintlock blunderbuss (bukmar) made for Tipu Sultan, by Sayyid 'Ali, India, Seringapatam, dated Mawludi 1223 (1794-95 AD)

a silver-mounted flintlock blunderbuss (bukmar) made for tipu sultan, by sayyid 'ali, india, seringapatam, dated mawludi 1223 (1794-95 ad)

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

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.

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

Style: Silver, Ceramics, Furniture 

FAMILY OF TIPU SULTAN: AN INDIAN COLONIAL SILVER AND CUT-GLASS CENTERPIECE CANDELABRUM, HAMILTON & CO., CALCUTTA, DATED 1851

FAMILY OF TIPU SULTAN: AN INDIAN COLONIAL SILVER AND CUT-GLASS CENTERPIECE CANDELABRUM, HAMILTON & CO., CALCUTTA, DATED 1851 the triform base applied with acanthus and engraved on one side with presentation inscription, three detachable arms topped by glass hurricane shades cut with stylized leaves, with a central matching glass bowl marked on base rim 189 oz 5 dwt excluding glass 5890 g height overall 26¾ in. 68 cm

family of tipu sultan: an indian colonial silver and cut-glass centerpiece candelabrum, hamilton & co., calcutta, dated 1851

the steel barrels formed in two stages, finely decorated with silver and gold inlay including a Persian quatrain, maker's signature, date, and place of manufacture, with 'Haydar' control mark, the tang inscribed with magic number and recommended measure for shot, the lockplate signed and dated, with 'Haydar' control mark, the cock sculpted in the form of a tiger, the walnut full stock, silver mounts with 'Haydar' control marks, small ramrod pipes, silver fore-end cap, two ramrods, one a replacement

the steel barrels formed in two stages, finely decorated with silver and gold inlay including a Persian quatrain, maker's signature, date, and place of manufacture, with 'Haydar' control mark, the tang inscribed with magic number and recommended measure for shot, the lockplate signed and dated, with 'Haydar' control mark, the cock sculpted in the form of a tiger, the walnut full stock, silver mounts with 'Haydar' control marks, small ramrod pipes, silver fore-end cap, two ramrods, one a replacement (2) 37.5cm. each

View 1 of Lot 223: A pair of mirrored silver-mounted flintlock pistols made for Tipu Sultan, by Asad Amin, India, Seringapatam, dated Mawludi 1223 (1794-95 AD)

a pair of mirrored silver-mounted flintlock pistols made for tipu sultan, by asad amin, india, seringapatam, dated mawludi 1223 (1794-95 ad)

Arts of the Islamic World

Property from an Important European Collection

Property from an Important European Collection A RARE SWORD WITH BUBRI-PATTERNED WATERED-STEEL BLADE, FROM THE PALACE ARMOURY OF TIPU SULTAN, INDIA, SERINGAPATAM, CIRCA 1782-99 with robust blade of kilig type forged with a pronounced watered bubri pattern over its entire length and inlaid with the European two-part inscription 'No Me Embaines Sin Honor' and 'No Me Salves Sin Razon' in gold letters each on a gold scroll over the respective sides, brass hilt cast in one piece enriched with punched and engraved detail, comprising a pair of short quillons with tiger's head terminals, a pair of asymmetrical langets, the inner punched and engraved with bubri motifs and the outer decorated with a tiger's mask cast in low relief, knuckle-guard formed en suite with the quillons, slender faceted grip decorated with engraved bubri panels over its upper half, and the pommel formed as a tiger's head in the round, in its European steel scabbard blade: 77.8cm. with hilt: 92.5cm.

a rare sword with bubri-patterned watered-steel blade, from the palace armoury of tipu sultan, india, seringapatam, circa 1782-99

with a curved watered-steel blade with inscription in gold in foliate cartouche, the brass hilt cast in one piece enriched with punched and engraved detail, comprising a pair of short quillons with tiger-head terminals, a pair of asymmetrical langets, the inner punched and engraved with bubri motifs and the outer decorated with a tiger's mask decorated in low relief, knuckle-guard formed ensuite with the quillons, slender faceted grip engraved with bubri panels over its upper half, the pommel formed as a tiger's head in the round

a very rare sword with tiger-headed hilt from the palace armoury of tipu sultan, seringapatam, india, late 18th century

the steel barrel with characteristic everted muzzle and octagonal section at the breech, inlaid with a calligraphic medallion in the form of a lion's head and further calligraphic cartouches, the stock with a comb and hinged butt trap, the European lock stamped with maker's marks, steel ramrod

a blunderbuss, 19th century, mounted with a silver-inlaid barrel from the armoury of tipu sultan at seringapatam, dated 1795-6

L12404

Eight memoranda concerning treasures looted from Seringapatam following the death of Tipu Sultan, comprising: an eyewitness description of Tipu Sultan's throne with an ink and wash sketch showing a frontal view (82 x 95mm), signed by Thomas Marriott, one page, folio, together with a second leaf with a second ink and wash sketch showing a bird's-eye view of the throne (157 x 235mm), green ribbon ties, loosely inserted in the volume, an apparently unpublished and unrecorded description of the greatest treasure of the court of Mysore; "Note of the Articles sent, in charge of Major Davies, to the Chairman of the Hon[oura]ble Court of Directors", listing "Tippo's Wardrobe", tiger's head and carpet removed from the throne, the mechanical wooden tiger, three hunting cheetahs and related items "necessary for hunting the Cheta in England", and two war-dresses, with notes and donation instructions, 2 pages; followed by  six memoranda signed by Benjamin Sydenham, Aide-de-Camp to the Governor General, providing more detail of these items, namely: "Memorandum relative to Tippoo Sultaun's Wardrobe", an account of Tipu Sultan's wardrobe and listing of the content of four trunks sent to the Court of Directors of the East India Company, 5 pages; "Memorandum respecting the War Dress", for the Prince of Wales, 2 pages; "Memorandum respecting one of Tippoo Sultaun's War dresses", for the Duke of York, 2 pages; "Memorandum respecting the Tygers Head", relating to the golden head removed from Tipu Sultan's throne and presented to George III ("...It is made of wood; and is covered with plates of the purest Gold about 1/10 of an Inch in thickness. The teeth are of rock Chrystal, and the Eyes of the same material..."), 4 pages; "Memorandum relative to the Wooden Tyger &ca. found in Seringapatam", ("...This piece of Mechanism represents a Royal Tyger in the act of devouring a prostrate European..."), the earliest recorded description of "Tipu's Tiger", 2 pages; "Memorandum respecting the Hunting Establishment of Tippoo Sultaun at Seringapatam, with an account of the Chetas sent to His Majesty", including an ink and wash sketch of the hunting grounds (105 x 105mm), giving a detailed account of how cheetahs were used for hunting, and a description of the cheetah by I. Fleming of the Bengal Medical Establishment, 11 pages; each item separately docketed, recording passage from India (the first on the Cornwallis, 18 January 1800, the other seven on the Earl Howe, 30 August 1800), all but the first numbered (1-7) in red, each with later docketing noting that it was removed "from Exam[iner's] Office 5 Oct[obe]r 1814"; bound together in blue paper wrappers, with endpapers on paper watermarked 1821, nicks and tears to first item with text loss, some dust staining, covers worn with loss at corners and spine

lists of the spoils of tippu sultan

L12223

the European straight double-edged blade is rivetted at the forte to a pair of palmette-form langets which act as reinforcement plates extending from the gauntlet, the gauntlet modelled as a stylised head with raised eyes, eyebrows, nose and moustache, the grip beneath formed as a straight cross-bar rivetted to the sides of the gauntlet, a further arched bar at the open end hooks into open lugs to hold the forearm in the gauntlet balanced against the weight of the blade, with a plaque inscribed 'Found on the City Walls: Presented to Lt. Col. George William Mignan HEIC, Seringapatam 1799', forked tongue-shaped attachments to sides

an indian gauntlet sword (pata) captured from tipu sultan's palace at seringapatam, south india, late 18th century

Music, Continental and Russian Books and Manuscripts

arranging for someone to bring the Indian [envoy] to attend the royal hunt, asking de La Luzerne to make sure this is someone reliable, agreeing that Piveron [de Morlat] would be most suitable, and asking him to act promptly to ensure that Piveron fulfills this commission, rather than [the equerry] de Larbouste, and that horses are found for the guest

arranging for someone to bring the Indian [envoy] to attend the royal hunt, asking de La Luzerne to make sure this is someone reliable, agreeing that Piveron [de Morlat] would be most suitable, and asking him to act promptly to ensure that Piveron fulfills this commission, rather than [the equerry] de Larbouste, and that horses are found for the guest "le reine prie mr de la luzerne de lui mander, si il a pensé a donner quelqu'un de sure pour conduire demain l'jndien a la chasse, et qui puisse en meme tems assez ce faire entendre de lui, pour empecher qu'il soit cause de quelques accident, il semble que mr de piveron, seroit le meilleure pour cette commission mais il faudroit l'avertire d'avance et prevenir mr de larbouste, pour qu'il ce trouve des chevaux pour lui" 1 page, 8vo (c. 165 x 110mm.), annotated by the recipient ("recu le 14 à sept heures du matin"), no date [probably 1788], some foxing, integral blank laid down on printed stationery of Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford, together with a letter by her to Lady Ponsonby, presenting "the original letter of Marie Antoinette" in 1890

unsigned autograph letter to the comte de la luzerne, written in the third person, [about the envoys of tipu sultan]

Arts of The Islamic World

the slender tapering watered wootz steel blade of peshkabz form with broad back inlaid at the forte with gold bubri motif, the agate hilt of waisted khanjar form with an enamelled gold pommel rendered in the form of a tiger's head, decorated with foliate scrolls and tiger markings reserved on an enamelled blue ground and kundan set with cut diamonds and rubies to the eyes, the scabbard decorated ensuite with tiger hunting antelope amidst trees and a makara and fish within a lake, the chape rendered in the form of a makara, the lock decorated with flowering plants set with rose-cut diamonds. This lot is accompanied by a copy of Tiger of Mysore, The life and death of Tipu Sultan by Denys Forrest, London 1970.

an enamelled and agate-hilted dagger with bubri decoration and scabbard, possibly from the personal armoury of tipu sultan at seringapatam, india, circa 1790

Art of Imperial India

the steel blade of gently curving form, engraved with foliate motifs near shoulder with remnants of gilding, the mount composed of two tiger-heads biting either side of the blade with a cylindrical fitting chiselled with a bubri design

a tipu sultan bubri-form axe-head with tiger's head, mysore, late 18th century

comprising a bronze hilt cast in one piece in the form of a tiger head at the forte enriched with engraved bubri and punched details, tiger-head pommel with smaller tiger-heads as quillons and on knuckle-guard formed ensuite with the quillons, the long slender bi-fullered blade stamped on the back edge: 'O DEAKIN'

a tipu sultan sword fitted with a captured english blade, mysore, late 18th century

the long steel barrel with incised geometric details with gold overlay bubri designs to muzzle and breech, the wooden stock and butt also decorated with a pattern of painted bubri motifs

a tipu sultan rampart gun, mysore, late 18th century

composed of russet-iron, with moulded girdles at the breech and muzzle, the muzzle flared and chiselled in the form of a tiger's head with engraved details, the breech cut with a brief inscription, formed with a short tang for fitting a tiller of shoulder-stock, and fitted with iron swivel mount

a tipu sultan barrel for a matchlock wall gun, mysore, late 18th century

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

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)

clockwise from top left: 'Tippoo Saib's two sons delivered up to Lord Cornwallis', London, 1792'The death of Tippoo Sultan and surrender of Seringapatam', London, 1799 (mounted against glass)'The last effort and fall of Tippoo Sultan', London, circa 1800'The coming-on of the monsoons, or, the retreat from Seringapatam', London, 1791'North entrance of Tippoo's palace at Bangalore', London, 1804

five framed prints relating to tipu sultan and the siege of seringapatam, london, 1791-1804

with long slender iron barrel with moulded girdle and belled muzzle, inlaid over half its length with a series of silver flowering tendrils, with plain tang of conventional form, the lock with iron pan cut with a water-drain, hardwood stock carved with a bubri moulding about the lock, the butt struck with 'Haydar' control mark, with full brass mounts of conventional type cast in low relief, the butt-plate and trigger-guard each with plantain spray finial and struck with 'Haydar' control marks throughout, with small ramrod-pipes, oval escutcheon cut with the tiger mask cypher of Tipu Sultan

a tipu sultan military flintlock blunderbuss (bukmar), seringaptam, dated mawludi year 1223 (1793)

of cylindrical form with convex mouldings and raised rings dividing the advancing segments, the muzzle and cascable button cast in the form of tiger heads, with a sculpted scorpion resting between the first reinforce rings

a tipu sultan bronze cannon with tiger-head muzzle, mysore, late 18th century

Watercolour on 'GR' watermarked paper, framed

two studies of soldiers in tipu sultan's army, attributable to robert home (d.1834), madras, circa 1793-94

gouache with gold on paper, inscriptions of identification above, green borders decorated with gilt scrolls, reverse with later inscriptions of identification and ownership

tipu sultan with his royal mistress, delhi, circa 1850

each with tapering barrel formed in two stages, silver fore-sight, gold koftgari lines at the breech and muzzle, a Persian quatrain in four koftgari panels, the two central panels terminating in the characteristic tiger mask cypher of Tipu Sultan issuant from a plantain spray, inlaid with the maker's signature, the date and a 'Haydar' talismanic square in a band above a further inscription across the breech, gold vent, breech tang engraved with conventional flowers and plantain leaves framing brief inscriptions of characteristic type, bevelled locks formed in the neo-French style of the Lucknow arsenal, incorporating the maker's signature in gold koftgari on a bubri scroll, a gold-lined 'Haydar' control mark at the rear, engraved flush-fitting safety-catch, the pan and pan-cover each gold-lined, and the cock chiselled in the form of a bubri with tiger's head jaws chiselled in the round (one top jaw and jaw screw expertly replaced), figured walnut full stock carved with plantain foliage in low relief about the breech tang, the butt struck with 'Haydar' control marks, full silver mounts struck with 'Haydar' control marks throughout, comprising large butt-cap with chased bubri border enclosing a plantain spray roundel, bubri-shaped side-plate, chased trigger-guard with plantain spray finial, small ramrod-pipes, silver fore-end cap, escutcheon encircled by a chased pattern of bubris, and original ramrod

each with tapering barrel formed in two stages, silver fore-sight, gold koftgari lines at the breech and muzzle, a Persian quatrain in four koftgari panels, the two central panels terminating in the characteristic tiger mask cypher of Tipu Sultan issuant from a plantain spray, inlaid with the maker's signature, the date and a 'Haydar' talismanic square in a band above a further inscription across the breech, gold vent, breech tang engraved with conventional flowers and plantain leaves framing brief inscriptions of characteristic type, bevelled locks formed in the neo-French style of the Lucknow arsenal, incorporating the maker's signature in gold koftgari on a bubri scroll, a gold-lined 'Haydar' control mark at the rear, engraved flush-fitting safety-catch, the pan and pan-cover each gold-lined, and the cock chiselled in the form of a bubri with tiger's head jaws chiselled in the round (one top jaw and jaw screw expertly replaced), figured walnut full stock carved with plantain foliage in low relief about the breech tang, the butt struck with 'Haydar' control marks, full silver mounts struck with 'Haydar' control marks throughout, comprising large butt-cap with chased bubri border enclosing a plantain spray roundel, bubri-shaped side-plate, chased trigger-guard with plantain spray finial, small ramrod-pipes, silver fore-end cap, escutcheon encircled by a chased pattern of bubris, and original ramrodQuantity: 2

a pair of silver-mounted flintlock pistols with left- and right-hand locks, made for tipu sultan by sayyid ma'sum, the royal workshops, seringapatam, dated mawludi year 1224 (1795-6)

the five-claw paw carved and originally clad in sheet gold, from one of the legs supporting Tipu's throne, with applied silver plaque bearing engraved inscription 'CAPTURE OF SERINGAPATAM / 4TH MAY 1799 / Foot of the tiger which supported the platform / on which stood TIPU SULTAN'S THRONE'

a carved wooden tiger paw from the throne of tipu sultan, seringapatam, 1787-93

with fifteenth-century Mamluk or Ottoman blade of true Damascus watered steel, slightly curved, double-edged towards the point and retaining traces of a series of cartouches punched and engraved towards the base (patches of light rust staining and the back edge slightly reduced towards the point), silver-gilt hilt cast in relief and further heightened by contrasting punched matted segmental panels, including a pair of shaped langets coming to an ogival point, a pair of quillons formed as tiger's paws, and shaped solid grip inset with a garnet front and rear and richly decorated with crystal, rubies and emeralds set within a bubri pattern, the pommel formed as a tiger's head thickly encased in gold on a wooden core, profusely decorated with rubies and diamonds, the teeth formed of diamonds and the tongue, eyes, whiskers and brow all studded with rubies, finely punched in imitation of a pelt and incorporating a basal collar further studded with small rubies (one ear slightly damaged), in its original scabbard constructed in the neo-Indian taste, involving facing panels of black leather enriched with gilt flowers, large silver-gilt mounts formed with openwork patterns matching the langets of the hilt, inset with three calligraphic roundels front and rear, engraved with a running pattern of plantain leaves and flowerheads along the edges, and with a running bubri pattern over the full length of the borders

an exotic gem-set trophy sword, the pommel taken from tipu sultan's regalia of office and matching the finials of the gold throne, seringapatam, circa 1782-93

constructed entirely of iron, previously blued and now oxidised to russet, decorated throughout with segmental bands of bubri ornament framing Quranic quotations, prayers in Arabic and a couplet in Persian, the calligraphic sequences scattered with further bubri patterns, and in fine untouched condition throughout

a very fine gold-damascened sword hilt inscribed in invocation of god and of haydar ali, the father of tipu sultan, mysore, circa 1780-99

constructed to near-perfect scale and with minutely accurate detail throughout, with blued barrel with silver tiger fore-sight, decorated over its length with a close-set pattern of silver bubris, involving engraved and gilt bands at the muzzle and Persian inscriptions engraved and gilt over the short flat ahead of the octagonal breech section, and the breech engraved and gilt with further inscriptions within a framework of gilt flowers incorporating a silver Divine Sun device, the adopted emblem of Tipu Sultan's royal standard, with enclosed lock engraved and gilt with the original maker's signature, gilt 'Haydar' control mark and fitted with a tap-action rotary pan for priming the additional superimposed charge, the rear half of the lock and the cock each chiselled in the form of a seated tiger in relief, enriched with silver bubris and a gilt 'Haydar' talismanic square, and also incorporating a safety-catch on the rearward top edge, the sliding stud formed as a minute tiger en suite with the fore-sight, with highly figured full stock of exotic hardwood, the butt carved with the openwork relief figure of a crouching tiger inlaid with silver bubris and gold eyes, with decorated full silver-plated mounts, blued iron trigger, silver sling-swivels, correctly styled ramrod, and in near-pristine condition

an exceptional contemporary working miniature gun modelled on the celebrated two-shot superimposed-load flintlock fowling-piece made for tipu sultan by asad khan-e muhammad of seringapatam, 20th century

An extremely fine bronzed copper medal by C.H. Küchler, bust of Cornwallis left, the reverse with Cornwallis receiving the sons of Tipu Sultan

marquis cornwallis and the defeat of tipu sultan, 1792-93

each with tapering barrel formed in two stages, inlaid with gold koftgari bands of bubri ornament at the breech and muzzle, silver fore-sight, three panels of gold koftgari inscriptions running over half its length, the central panel terminating in the characteristic tiger mask cypher of Tipu Sultan and the flanking verses topped by flowering sprigs, with gold vent, the breech tang decorated in continuation of the bubri theme and incorporating characteristic brief inscriptions, bevelled lock with gold-lined 'Haydar' control mark, the maker's signature within a bubri motif, sliding safety-catch, and the cock chiselled in the form of a bubri with tiger's head jaws chiselled in the round, figured walnut full stock carved with plantain foliage in low relief about the breech tang, large bulbous butt (one repaired and varnished), full silver mounts struck with 'Haydar' control marks throughout, comprising large butt-cap chased with bubri border patterns and centering on a spray of plantain foliage, bubri-shaped side-place, trigger-guard with plantain finial, small ramrod-pipes, silver fore-end cap, escutcheon, and one pistol retaining its original ramrod (the other an expert replacement)

each with tapering barrel formed in two stages, inlaid with gold koftgari bands of bubri ornament at the breech and muzzle, silver fore-sight, three panels of gold koftgari inscriptions running over half its length, the central panel terminating in the characteristic tiger mask cypher of Tipu Sultan and the flanking verses topped by flowering sprigs, with gold vent, the breech tang decorated in continuation of the bubri theme and incorporating characteristic brief inscriptions, bevelled lock with gold-lined 'Haydar' control mark, the maker's signature within a bubri motif, sliding safety-catch, and the cock chiselled in the form of a bubri with tiger's head jaws chiselled in the round, figured walnut full stock carved with plantain foliage in low relief about the breech tang, large bulbous butt (one repaired and varnished), full silver mounts struck with 'Haydar' control marks throughout, comprising large butt-cap chased with bubri border patterns and centering on a spray of plantain foliage, bubri-shaped side-place, trigger-guard with plantain finial, small ramrod-pipes, silver fore-end cap, escutcheon, and one pistol retaining its original ramrod (the other an expert replacement)Quantity: 2

a pair of silver-mounted flintlock pistols with left- and right-hand locks, made for tipu sultan by asad-e amin, seringapatam, dated in the mawludi year 1223 (1794-5)

the ground worked with laid and couched gilt metal thread and wire over heavy paper padding, appliquéd in rose coloured and brown-black silk velvet with a design of a central lobed floral medallion with overall pattern of tiger stripes (bubris) forming a trellis enclosing flowerheads, arched spandrels enclosing poppy plants, within a border of arabesque vine interlace and poppies, decorated in gilt metal thread chain stitch and with spangles, rope ties, originally wrapped in magenta silk thread (some abrasion to metal thread couchwork, rose silk velvet rubbed, brown-black velvet appliqué later, red cotton backing)

an appliqué and gilt metal thread embroidered shamiana (tent canopy) from the cloth of gold suite of fabric used by tipu sultan in the royal toshkhana or hall of public audience, seringapatam, circa 1790

Results for "Tipu Sultan"