May 26, 2023
2 mins read

Tipu’s sword sold for Rs 140 crore at London auction

The auction house said the sword was found in Tipu Sultan’s private quarters of his palace after he was killed by British forces on May 4, 1799…reports Asian Lite News

Erstwhile Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan’s ‘Bedchamber Sword’ had sold for more than 14 million pounds ($17 million) at an auction in London.

Described as “one of the world’s rare artefacts”, the sword’s sale was conducted by Bonhams — a privately owned international auction house in London — on Tuesday, achieving 14,080,900 pounds against an estimate of 1.5 million to 2 million pounds.

The auction house said the sword was found in Tipu Sultan’s private quarters of his palace after he was killed by British forces on May 4, 1799.

Following his death, the sword was presented to British Major General David Baird as a token of his courage, according to Bonhams.

The auction house said that the sword’s “extremely rare calligraphic hilt is a masterpiece of late-18th century Indian manufacture, intricately inlaid in gold with fine calligraphic invocations to God”.

“The English inscription to the blade, presumably added by Baird or a descendant, explains how it was found in Tipu Sultan’s bedchamber following the fall of Seringapatam (now Srirangapatna) and presented to the General as a trophy of his victory.”

On the spine of the blade, a gold inlaid inscription reads ‘Shamshir-e Malik’ or ‘The Sword of the King’.

“The sword has an extraordinary history, an astonishing provenance and unrivalled craftsmanship,” CNN quoted Nima Sagharchi, group head of Islamic and Indian Art at Bonhams, as saying in the statement.

Tipu Sultan’s sword fetches over $17 million at London auction( https://www.bonhams.com/stories/36428/)

“It was no surprise it was so hotly contested between two phone bidders and a bidder in the room. We are delighted with the result,” he added.

According to Bonhams CEO Bruno Vinciguerra, the “spectacular sword is the greatest of all the weapons linked to Tipu Sultan still in private hands”.

“Its close personal association with the Sultan, its impeccable provenance traceable to the very day it was captured, and the outstanding craftsmanship that went into its manufacture make it unique and highly desirable,” he added.

ALSO READ-NIA team in London to probe attack on Indian mission

Previous Story

‘UAE-India partnership a driver for economic growth’

Next Story

Investopia partners with CII

Latest from -Top News

Bangladesh Elections on EU Radar

EU Pre-Election Team to Visit Bangladesh in September Ahead of 13th Parliamentary Polls…reports Asian Lite News Bangladesh Election Commission’s Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced on Monday that a European Union (EU) pre-election

After Pakistan, China Backing Iran Too?

China and Iran signed a 25-year comprehensive cooperation agreement that covered trade, energy and security, showcasing the strategic value that Beijing places on Tehran….reports Asian Lite News Despite its long-standing claims of

US-India ties is a slow-motion catastrophe

For the first time in two decades, Trump’s actions, statements, and coercive tone have made relations with the US a combustible domestic political issue in India, writes Manoj Menon The post-globalisation uncertainty

Modi Welcomes Marcos Jr to Delhi

PM Modi Welcomes Philippines President Marcos Jr to Strengthen India-Philippines Ties…reports Asian Lite News Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday warmly welcomed Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr at Hyderabad House in

Is Bangladesh Turning Into a Theocratic State?

The rise of radical Islamic influence under Yunus’s watch threatens to transform Bangladesh from a secular democracy into a theocratic state….writes Anna Mahjar-Barducci Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus’s transition from economist
Go toTop