On Tuesday, Tipu Sultan’s bedchamber sword went under the hammer and ended up selling for £14 million (more than Rs 143 crore) at auction in London. According to a press release from Bonhams auction house, this is a new world record for the sale of an Indian and Islamic object from history.
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- Tipu Sultan’s swords are auctioned for Rs 143 crore in London
- The sword was gifted to Major General David Baird after Tipu Sultan was assassinated.
Tipu Sultan’s swords are auctioned for Rs 143 crore in London
Bonhams Auction House
Bonhams Head of Islamic and Indian Art Group, Nima Sagharchi, explained: “The sword has an extraordinary history, astonishing provenance and unrivaled craftsmanship. It was not a surprise that there was such a heated dispute between two telephone bidders and a bidder in the room. We are delighted with the result.”
The item was recovered by British troops from the bedroom of the Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan after he was defeated in a war against the British. It was collected from the Mysore lion palace at Seringapatam on May 4, 1799. The blade is inscribed with the words “The Ruler’s Sword”.
Before the auction began, Oliver White, Director of Islamic and Indian Art at Bonhams, said: “This spectacular sword is the largest of all the Tipu Sultan-linked weapons still in private hands. Its close personal association with the Sultan, its impeccable provenance traceable back to the day it was captured, and the superb craftsmanship that went into its making make it unique and highly desirable.”
The sword was gifted to Major General David Baird after Tipu Sultan was assassinated.
Wikimedia Commons
An inscription was added to the steel blade of the sword to mark that the gold-hilted sword was given to Major General David Baird “as a token of his high esteem for his courage and conduct in the assault he commanded and in which Tipu Sultan was killed.”
As of now, there has been no word on who took home the extremely expensive piece of history. The house of hopefuls, Bonhams, has denied all requests asking them to reveal any details of the buyer and now owner of the sword.
The sword is not simply something related to Tipu and therefore has value. It is also a famous showcase for the tribal art that is inscribed on its gold hilt. The hilt of the sword is decorated with koftgari ornamental work from the royal weaponry art of the tribes of Rajasthan. The King is believed to have had this now coveted sword with him from 1782 to 1799.
Bonhams Auction House
According to Bonhams, “The sword is inscribed with thuluth, bubri motifs from the hilt end of the sword to the edge of the blade.” Due to Tipu Sultan’s legacy and history, the sword that rested in his position amassed such incredible value at auction.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn