Tipu Sultan sword sells for GBP 100,800 at UK auction

A gem-set and enamelled sword, believed to be from the personal armoury of 18th century Mysore king Tipu Sultan, has gone under the hammer for GBP 100,800 at a sale at Christie’s auction house in London.

The Art of the Islamic and Indian World sale on Thursday also had a more intricately designed sword belonging to the legendary ruler up for auction but it failed to fetch bids within



the asking price of GBP 1,500,000-2,000,000 and remained unsold. However, the buyers’ names were kept confidential.

The set of swords, previously unrecorded, come from the collection of Charles, the 1st Marquess and 2nd Earl Cornwallis, a central figure in the consolidation of British authority in India after the death of Tipu Sultan at the fall of Seringapatam (Srirangapatna) in 1799.