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Lot Essay
Tipu Sultan, born in 1753, was the son of Haidar Ali, Sultan of Mysore. He commanded a corps of cavalry in the Carnatic War of 1767 and later distinguished himself in the Maratha War of 1775-79. In December 1782 he succeeded his father, and following his defeat of the British (1st Mysore War, 1780-84) made peace in 1784. The British declared war on him in 1790 culminating in Tipu's defeat near Seringapatam and the ceding of half of his territories in March 1799. On the renewal of hostilities he was killed during the storming of Seringapatam on May 4th of that year.
The tiger and tiger-stripe (bubri) reflect Tipu Sultan's obsession with the animal which is found on his weapons, his furniture and even his wardrobe.
At the fall of Seringapatam 927 cannon were captured. Of these approximately 400 were bronze and over half of this group were cast in Tipu's own foundries, one at Bangalore and two in Seringapatam. The inclusion on the present cannon of the 'Haydar talismanic device or square indicates that it was cast at the Royal foundry.
This cannon compares very closely with two which were cast in the same year, also in the Royal foundry at Seringapatam, and now preserved in The Clive Collection at Powis Castle. These are given as 2¾-3 pounder calibre, with a translated weight of sixty-six pounds and two grains.
A very similar cannon also appears in Robert Ker Porter's painting 'The Storming of Seringapatam' of 1802.
See Treasures from India, The Clive Collection at Powis Castle, The National Trust, 1987, Cat.No.68.
Also see Neil Carleton and Matthew Buck, Guns of the Rajahs. Indian artillery from the Mughals to the Sikhs, Journal of the Ordnance Society, vol.16, 2004.
Also see Tigers round the Throne, the court of Tipu Sultan (1750-1799), Zamana gallery, London, 1990, pp.64-67.
The tiger and tiger-stripe (bubri) reflect Tipu Sultan's obsession with the animal which is found on his weapons, his furniture and even his wardrobe.
At the fall of Seringapatam 927 cannon were captured. Of these approximately 400 were bronze and over half of this group were cast in Tipu's own foundries, one at Bangalore and two in Seringapatam. The inclusion on the present cannon of the 'Haydar talismanic device or square indicates that it was cast at the Royal foundry.
This cannon compares very closely with two which were cast in the same year, also in the Royal foundry at Seringapatam, and now preserved in The Clive Collection at Powis Castle. These are given as 2¾-3 pounder calibre, with a translated weight of sixty-six pounds and two grains.
A very similar cannon also appears in Robert Ker Porter's painting 'The Storming of Seringapatam' of 1802.
See Treasures from India, The Clive Collection at Powis Castle, The National Trust, 1987, Cat.No.68.
Also see Neil Carleton and Matthew Buck, Guns of the Rajahs. Indian artillery from the Mughals to the Sikhs, Journal of the Ordnance Society, vol.16, 2004.
Also see Tigers round the Throne, the court of Tipu Sultan (1750-1799), Zamana gallery, London, 1990, pp.64-67.