This is a very fine pair of bracelets with unusual animal head terminals. The stones are very carefully set and the enamel decoration comprises a high degree of detail. While most of the inset stones are cut flat and hardly facetted, it is interesting to note that the diamonds set on the outer curvature are much larger stones and more deeply facetted, with more brilliancy. These diamonds were chosen to be set in this prominent location, and it is possible that they are of an earlier date, one can compare them to the important collection of Mughal-cut diamonds offered for sale as Lot 408. The terminals are very likely tigers' heads. Tigers were hunted in India by royalty and using the tiger's image was a statement of power. The most famous Indian ruler who used the tiger image intentionally to express his royal status was Tipu Sultan, the "Tiger of Mysore". Tipu Sultan was the sultan of Mysore, a very powerful ruler, whose kingdom posed an enormous threat to British military power in India. In 1784 Tipu defeated the British after four years of war (the so called 2nd Mysore War). In 1792 a peace treaty was struck between Tipu and the British at Tipu's capital Seringapatam, where Tipu's two sons were handed over as hostages. Peace lasted until 1799 when Tipu was attacked again and the Fourth Mysore War broke out under General Baird. It was during this campaign that Tipu was killed. Tipu was of great interest to the British public and a whole genre of art and literature developed around "Tipoo the Tiger".

Tipu's throne was decorated with tiger figures and set with large amounts of jewels. A tiger's head once part of this throne is now part of the Clive Collection at Powis Castle (see: Archer, M. et al.: Treasures from India, The Clive Collection at Powis Castle, London, 1987, p. 75, no. 88, col. illus. p. 63). This tiger's head, set with rubies, diamonds and emeralds, is in shape and style very similar to the tiger heads of the present bracelets. They too comprise a rounded head and a facial feature that could be read as a "smile". It is therefore possible that the present bracelets were at one time connected to Tipu Sultan.