TIPU SULTAN'S SWORD FETCHES 505,250 POUNDS

Tipu Sultan’s majestic sword has fetched a record price of 505,250 pounds at an auction by Sotheby’s even though its initial estimate was a modest 50,000 to 70,000. In 2003, the 200-year-old sword was bought with much fanfare by liquor baron Vijay Mallya. It has now been sold for a record price. Sotheby’s described the item as: “A Very Rare Sword with Tiger-Form Hilt, from the Palace Armoury of Tipu Sultan, India, circa 1782-99, with 19th century silver-mounted Scabbard.” Sotheby’s said there were a very small number of sword hilts, such as Tipu Sultan’s auctioned sword, which have a pronounced tiger theme that was a mark of Tipu’s ownership. Another highlight of the auction was rare Indian bronze cannon cast at the Mysore king’s royal foundry. This artefact from around 1790 C.E. was bought by an anonymous buyer at 313,250 pounds.