Tipu Sultan's sword fetches over $17 million at London auction


London, May 26 (IANS): 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.

"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.

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Danish, Arabia

    Fri, May 26 2023

    Wow 🤩 for looking good after

    DisAgree [2] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Don, Mangalore

    Fri, May 26 2023

    Yes Rolf, We are all living proof that we survived the rape, torture and abuses of "Jihad" that was unleashed upon the peoples on planet earth. The people of the Indian subcontinent and the Arab world in particular, and the world in general survived not because of your benevolence, but because we paid “JAZIYA” in cash/kind, with our blood, our tears, our land, our money and free slave labour. Read world history and try refuting a whole millennium of blood shed, and how the people of the world lived under for over a thousand years, don’t even try to white washing all that history. Read Will Durant’s book The Take over of India – with 80 Million people dead and counting. Noble Hindu women who refused to become sex slaves upon the deaths of their (warrior) husbands preferred to die by burning themselves on the funeral pyres of their husbands and committed “Sathi” rather than becoming sex slaves – “Wa Malakath Aimanikum”

    DisAgree [2] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rolf, Dubai

    Sat, May 27 2023

    Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

    DisAgree [2] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vinod Kumar, Mangalore

    Fri, May 26 2023

    No mention of Uri Gowda and Nanji Gowda in this historic event. Then who killed Tippu and later who inscripted thier own inscriptions on the sword as a token of victory to British general and now in London????..BJP should explain this part of the history to Indians and also in thier NEP syllabus for children. Since both Tippu and BJP are communal how can BJP hate Tippu so much for similar idealogy????…..

    DisAgree [2] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amith, udupi

    Fri, May 26 2023

    vishwagurus suit got 4.3 crores and tipu sultans sword went for $17 million USD ..bhakths must protest such indifference

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Indian, Dubai/ Mangalore

    Fri, May 26 2023

    Ghar ki Murgi Daal Baraber

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Langoolacharya., Belman / Washington, DC.

    Fri, May 26 2023

    Sidda will Celebrate Tippu Jayanthi this year after 4 years pause....Ivan Lobo and Jossey Sir are ready with new Sherwani / Tippu dress for Fancy dress party...Tak...Takk...

    DisAgree [5] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • ram rahim robert, mangalore

    Fri, May 26 2023

    whoever buys it will not sleep in peace as nearly 60000 of my forefathers were killed by the tyrant with the same sword....he must be rotting in hell now..he even made his soldiers to push pregnant women from the top of gadayikallu....

    DisAgree [12] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rolf, Dubai

    Fri, May 26 2023

    You are the living proof that he spared Good people

    DisAgree [4] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Monty Dotor, Mangalore

    Fri, May 26 2023

    In 2004 Mallya had purchased it , later Kingfisher had to be closed down and Mallya became a defaulter..Bach Ke Rehna Re Baba, Bach Ke Rehna Re...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [26] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rolf, Dubai

    Fri, May 26 2023

    Dear Doctor you are right the sword stand for good reason finally Mallaya lost everything just he brought the sword .Tippu sword did the changes.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Observer, Mangalore

    Fri, May 26 2023

    Tippu used that sword against the white invaders but ironically gulamas called him a traitor.

    DisAgree [23] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • Don Kamath, Urwa Store Mangalore

    Fri, May 26 2023

    Tippu used this sword to butcher thousands of innocent Christians. It is a fact. No one can deny this fact. However he fought for his throne against the British. So some historians called him a freedom fighter.

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse


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