Tipu Sultan's Golden Sword Breaks a Record
Tipu Sultan’s bedchamber sword sold for $17 million at auction, setting a new record for an Indian and Islamic object.
On May 23, 2023, as part of Bonhams' Islamic and Indian Art auction in London, a legendary sword that belonged to the Indian ruler Tipu Sultan was sold for £14 million (about $17.2 million). According to a press release from the auction house, this means a new world record for an Indian and Islamic object.
The sword, initially estimated at £1,500,000 - £2,000,000, comes with fascinating provenance, as it is considered one of the best and most important of all weapons, with a proven personal association with the ruler. It was among those taken from Tipu Sultan's private quarters after the fall of his royal stronghold at Seringapatam on May 4, 1799, following the battle against the British troops of the East India Company. After Tipu was killed, his sword was presented to General David Baird as a trophy in recognition of his bravery.
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Tipu Sultan was also known as the Tiger of Mysore, after the kingdom in southern India over which he ruled from 1782 to 1799. He was a military innovator who introduced the use of rocket artillery and was also known for his administrative and financial reforms that transformed Mysore into one of India's most dynamic economies.
The sword sold at auction was always within reach of the Sultan in his bedroom, to be used against possible night attacks. Over three feet long, it is of exceptional quality: a true masterpiece made by expert Mughal swordsmen. The handle, in particular, is like a jewel, inlaid with refined gold engravings.
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Oliver White, Bonhams' Head of Islamic and Indian Art, commented in a press release that "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."
It is not surprising that the sword was the subject of a fierce bidding battle between two buyers on the phone and one participant in the room. General Baird's family kept the sword until 2003, when it was sold at auction for £150,000. Twenty years later, a new sale set a record worthy of the historical and artistic value of this object.
