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
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(?)’
Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Preview |
| |
Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.