London: The bedchamber sword of former Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan has sold for more than 14 million pounds ($17 million) at an auction in London. Described as one of the rarest artifacts in the world, the sale of the sword was conducted by Bonhams, a privately owned international auction company in London. Tuesday’s auction fetched £14,080,900 against an estimate of £1.5 million to £2 million. The auction company said the sword was found in the private quarters of Tipu Sultan’s palace after he was executed by British forces on May 4, 1799.
After his death, the sword was presented to British Major General David Baird as a symbol of his courage, according to Bonhams. The extremely rare calligraphic hilt of the sword is a masterpiece of late 18th century Indian manufacture, inlaid with gold, the auction company said. The English inscription on the blade, probably added by Baird or a descendant, tells how it was found in Tipu Sultan’s bedroom after the fall of Seringapatam (now Srirangapatna) and presented to the general as a trophy of his victory. it was done.
On the spine of the blade, the gold inscription Shamshir-e Malik or The King’s Sword is inscribed. The sword has an extraordinary history, a surprising provenance and peerless craftsmanship, said Neema Sagarchi, group head of Islamic and Indian art at Bonhams. It is no surprise that there was heated competition among the bidders, he said. We are happy with the result.
According to Bruno Vinciguerra, CEO of Bonhams, the magnificent sword is the greatest of all the weapons belonging to Tipu Sultan, which is still in private hands. Its close personal association with the Sultan, its impeccable provenance on the day it was captured, and the exquisite craftsmanship involved in its making, he said, made it unique and highly desirable.
Read the Latest India News Today on The Eastern Herald.
