A SWORD (TULWAR) AND SCABBARD FROM THE PERSONAL ARMOURY OF TIPU SULTAN (R. 1782-99) - photo 1
A SWORD (TULWAR) AND SCABBARD FROM THE PERSONAL ARMOURY OF TIPU SULTAN (R. 1782-99) - photo 2
A SWORD (TULWAR) AND SCABBARD FROM THE PERSONAL ARMOURY OF TIPU SULTAN (R. 1782-99) - photo 3
A SWORD (TULWAR) AND SCABBARD FROM THE PERSONAL ARMOURY OF TIPU SULTAN (R. 1782-99) - photo 4
A SWORD (TULWAR) AND SCABBARD FROM THE PERSONAL ARMOURY OF TIPU SULTAN (R. 1782-99) - photo 5
A SWORD (TULWAR) AND SCABBARD FROM THE PERSONAL ARMOURY OF TIPU SULTAN (R. 1782-99) - photo 6
A SWORD (TULWAR) AND SCABBARD FROM THE PERSONAL ARMOURY OF TIPU SULTAN (R. 1782-99) - photo 7
A SWORD (TULWAR) AND SCABBARD FROM THE PERSONAL ARMOURY OF TIPU SULTAN (R. 1782-99) - photo 8
A SWORD (TULWAR) AND SCABBARD FROM THE PERSONAL ARMOURY OF TIPU SULTAN (R. 1782-99) - photo 9

A SWORD (TULWAR) AND SCABBARD FROM THE PERSONAL ARMOURY OF TIPU SULTAN (R. 1782-99)

Lot 111
25.04.2024 10:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 403 200
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1178408
Lot 111 | A SWORD (TULWAR) AND SCABBARD FROM THE PERSONAL ARMOURY OF TIPU SULTAN (R. 1782-99)
Estimate value
£ 400 000 – 600 000
A SWORD (TULWAR) AND SCABBARD FROM THE PERSONAL ARMOURY OF TIPU SULTAN (R. 1782-99)

SERINGAPATAM, DECCAN, INDIA, DATED MAULUDI 1224 / 1796-97 AD

The large slightly curved unfullered steel blade double-edged at the tip, one side overlaid with a gilt nasta'liq inscription set within a cartouche, struck with a Mysore Haidar bubri control mark, the blued-steel hilt of typical tulwar form, the tiger head langet extensively inscribed in gold nasta'liq, the grip, knuckle-guard, and quillons similarly inscribed, the date in numerals on the underside of the quillon, the edges of the hilt with bubri tiger-stripe decoration, the disc pommel similarly decorated and with suspension loop fitting, blade cut down

25 ½in. (64.8cm.) long





Provenance

Tipu Sultan of Mysore (1757-1799),

By repute with the Kings of Hanover,

Art market, Germany, by 1985,

Private German Collection, and thence by descent





Inscribed

On the Hilt:
On the grip, side A, in the teardrop shape, Qur'an VIII, sura al-anfal, v.40 (part); LVII, sura al-hadid, v.25 (part); XLVII, sura Muhammad, v.4 (part)
Across the quillon, Qur'an XXXVII, sura as-saffat, vv.172-73 (part); and a prayer hasbi allah wa ni'am al-wakil 'God is sufficient for me and the best Disposer of affairs'
Around the lion's head, Qur'an VIII, sura al-anfal, v.10 (part); VI, sura al-an'am, v.45
In the lion's head, asad allah al-ghalib 'The victorious lion of God (i.e. 'Ali)'
Side B, in the teardrop shape, Qur'an II, sura al-baqarah, v.286 (part); VIII, sura al-anfal, v.12 (part)
Across the quillon, Qur'an LVI, sura al-waqi'ah, v.13 (part); XII, sura yusuf, v.64 (part)
In the lion's head, ya allah [ya] muhammad 'O God! O Muhammad!'
In the mark on the lion's head, 'Haidar'
On the underside of the pommel, in the border, Qur'an XVII, sura al-an'am, Qur'an LIV, sura al-qamar, v.44 (in part); XXIX, sura al-'ankabut, v.30 (part).
On the underside of the pommel, in the inner band, Qur'an XXXVII, sura as-saffar, v.116; XXX, sura al-rum, vv.4-5 (part).
On the pommel, repeated, allah
On the ends of the quillons, ya allah ya nasir 'O God! O Giver of Victory'; ya muhammad ya 'ali 'O Muhammad! O 'Ali!'
On the underside of the quillons, karkhana-yi huzur sana 1224 mawlud [y]a muhammad 'Imperial workshop Mauludi year 1224. O Muhammad!'
On the pommel, repeated, allah
On the exterior of the knuckle-guard, Qur'an III, sura ali 'imran, v.160 (in part); LIV, sura al-qamar, v.45; XLIII, sura az-zukhruf, v.1
On the exterior of the knuckle-guard in the small bubri devices, allah
On the blade, in the small cartouche at one end of the long inscription, sarkar-i khudadad sakht-i dar al-saltanat patan, 'The government bestowed by God. Manufacture of Dar al-Saltanat Patan'
The long inscription, Persian verses and a date, shud barq-i jan-i kafiran tigh-i zafar-bunyad-i man sultan-i din haydar buwad dar fath bar imdad-i man sana 4221 'My sword, the essence of which is victory, became lightning for the souls of the unbelievers, Haidar, the Sultan of Religion, is my assistance in victory. Year 4221 (i.e. 1224 Mauludi/1796-7 AD)'
In the double leaf-device at the other end of the long inscription, allah akbar muhammad, ‘God is greatest. Muhammad’
Mark on the blade, haydar 1223 (?), ‘Haydar 1223(?)’
Place of origin:India, Asia
Category:Swords
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
25.04.2024 – 25.04.2024
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
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