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Lot Essay
The Gandaberunda or double-headed eagle is the family emblem of the Wodeyars who have ruled Mysore since the early middle ages. It is the central feature of their official coat of arms and famously adorns the entrance to the royal palace. It is higly likely that the series of jewelled double-headed eagles in this colection were made either for use by or gifts to the royal family or for courtiers to wear as a badge of allegiance. An inset double headed eagle, with a reputed provenance of coming originally from the collection of Sri Krishna Raja Wodeyar, the Maharaja of Mysore, was on the London market (Usha R. Bala Krishnan and Meera Sushil Kumar, Dance of the Peacock, Mumbai, 1999, no.373, pp.229-230).
In the context of its symbolism the present example is particularly interesting due to the small lions resting on the tops of the wings. Is this a small reference to the British who had taken control of Mysore finally after defeating Tipu Sultan at Seringapatam in 1799?
In the context of its symbolism the present example is particularly interesting due to the small lions resting on the tops of the wings. Is this a small reference to the British who had taken control of Mysore finally after defeating Tipu Sultan at Seringapatam in 1799?