Tipu Sword

Jens Nordlunde · 13th January 2005, 11:20 AM

Earl, thank you for the link – a print is ready for reading.

Brian, do you think that all the bedchamber swords found after Tipoo is be course he slept in the armoury?
I have a better picture of the hilt, plus a picture of the whole sword, from the auction catalogue.
Treasurers from India, The Clive Collection at Powis Castle. Herbert Press, England, 1987. In the book are shown a number of swords, katars and daggers, and like Brian says two are said to have been Tipoo’s.
I think it was in Travels in the Mogul Empire A.D. 1656-1668 by François Bernier, I read, that in the Sind area they did not like the European blades, as they found the steel inferior to the Indian steel.
Something went wrong I don't seem to be able to attach the picture of the whole sword - sorry.

B.I · 13th January 2005, 11:52 AM

hey jens/earl,
the inscription on the bedchamber sword and a poor shot of the blade. i dont have a scanner at home, unfortunately.

B.I · 13th January 2005, 11:54 AM

tipus beheading sword. the hilt is of the style of the one presented to the queen and apparantly found next to his body, and the one in the british museum and private collection.
sorry for the poor image.

B.I · 13th January 2005, 11:56 AM

the fabulous piece in the stibbert collection.
jens, can you scan the powis swords?

Jens Nordlunde · 13th January 2005, 01:23 PM

Here they are.

Mare Rosu · 13th January 2005, 01:29 PM

Hi Brian
You need to retire and spend more time reading and studying the good stuff.

This is a poor scan from Dr. Pant book on Tipu sword. The text indicates it was found on his body after the battle. You can see it has a knuckle guard and the Tiger motif.
( jens, you did good, your picture in "full living color" show the same sword that is in Dr. Pant book. OK Brian now what?

B.I · 13th January 2005, 01:59 PM

hi earl,
a slight confusion. the picture you attached is the sword owned by the queen, and is one of them that i mentioned. it is of the style of the beheading sword and the two others i mentioned.
i thought you meant a different sword. there is one in an indian museum, which i believe to be dehli (a guess) that attributes to tipu but am sure it isnt. as pant catalogued the dehli museum, i assumed it was this one you mentioned.
the sword jens listed was lord clives, and sits in powis castle and is of a different type.

Jens Nordlunde · 13th January 2005, 02:30 PM

This sword is not a Tipu bedchamber sword, neither was it found under or on top of him when he was found, but maybe it belonged to one of his body guards.

Likhari · 18th November 2017, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B.I

tipus beheading sword. the hilt is of the style of the one presented to the queen and apparantly found next to his body, and the one in the british museum and private collection.
sorry for the poor image.

Brian does this qualify as a Tipu Sultan sword ? The bubri design seems to be finely executed.

Jens Nordlunde · 19th November 2017, 02:33 PM

I doubt that the hilt is a 'Tipu hilt', as I dont remember to have seen a horse head on any of the hilts attributed to Tipu.
The way the ears are turned points towards a Marwari breed.
A hilt attributed to South India, possible Maysore 18th century can be seen in 'A Passion for Indian Arms' pp. 266-268.

Ian · 19th November 2017, 02:53 PM

The emblem characterizing Tipu Sultan was the tiger. He identified strongly with this symbol and was called the "Tiger of Mysore." There is a very famous item in the V&A Museum called Tipu's Tiger that is a mechanical musical device portraying a tiger eating a European.

As Jens states, I cannot recall any iconography associated with Tipu that featured a horse.

Ian

Likhari · 19th November 2017, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

The emblem characterizing Tipu Sultan was the tiger. He identified strongly with this symbol and was called the "Tiger of Mysore." There is a very famous item in the V&A Museum called Tipu's Tiger that is a mechanical musical device portraying a tiger eating a European.

As Jens states, I cannot recall any iconography associated with Tipu that featured a horse.

Ian

If you look closely Ian and Jens you can see a tiger on the quillon and also on the chappe. Also you can see bubri stripes which were used by Tipu as a trademark on almost everything he owned. Here is another example:

Jim McDougall · 19th November 2017, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian

The emblem characterizing Tipu Sultan was the tiger. He identified strongly with this symbol and was called the "Tiger of Mysore." There is a very famous item in the V&A Museum called Tipu's Tiger that is a mechanical musical device portraying a tiger eating a European.

As Jens states, I cannot recall any iconography associated with Tipu that featured a horse.

Ian

This interesting mechanical toy was indeed most symbolic to Tipu, who had gained a deep hatred for the British, and is keenly representing him(the tiger of Mysore) killing what is described as a 'European' but the allegory is clearly toward the British. It allegedly represents the death of the son of the British commander who was killed by a tiger Dec.22, 1792, but the larger meaning is clear.

Such totemic symbolism is seen in the Seringpatam medal issued by the British in 1808, with a British lion killing a tiger (Mysore).

13th January 2005, 11:20 AM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Earl, thank you for the link – a print is ready for reading. Brian, do you think that all the bedchamber swords found after Tipoo is be course he slept in the armoury? I have a better picture of the hilt, plus a picture of the whole sword, from the auction catalogue. Treasurers from India, The Clive Collection at Powis Castle. Herbert Press, England, 1987. In the book are shown a number of swords, katars and daggers, and like Brian says two are said to have been Tipoo’s. I think it was in Travels in the Mogul Empire A.D. 1656-1668 by François Bernier, I read, that in the Sind area they did not like the European blades, as they found the steel inferior to the Indian steel. Something went wrong I don't seem to be able to attach the picture of the whole sword - sorry. Attached Images

13th January 2005, 11:52 AM	#2
B.I Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 485	hey jens/earl, the inscription on the bedchamber sword and a poor shot of the blade. i dont have a scanner at home, unfortunately. Attached Images

13th January 2005, 11:54 AM	#3
B.I Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 485	tipus beheading sword. the hilt is of the style of the one presented to the queen and apparantly found next to his body, and the one in the british museum and private collection. sorry for the poor image. Attached Images

13th January 2005, 11:56 AM	#4
B.I Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 485	the fabulous piece in the stibbert collection. jens, can you scan the powis swords? Attached Images

13th January 2005, 01:23 PM	#5
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Here they are. Attached Images

13th January 2005, 01:29 PM	#6
Mare Rosu Deceased Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: USA, DEEP SOUTH, GEORGIA, Y'all hear? Posts: 121	Dr. Pant picture on Tipu sword Hi Brian You need to retire and spend more time reading and studying the good stuff. This is a poor scan from Dr. Pant book on Tipu sword. The text indicates it was found on his body after the battle. You can see it has a knuckle guard and the Tiger motif. ( jens, you did good, your picture in "full living color" show the same sword that is in Dr. Pant book. OK Brian now what? Attached Images

13th January 2005, 01:59 PM	#7
B.I Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 485	hi earl, a slight confusion. the picture you attached is the sword owned by the queen, and is one of them that i mentioned. it is of the style of the beheading sword and the two others i mentioned. i thought you meant a different sword. there is one in an indian museum, which i believe to be dehli (a guess) that attributes to tipu but am sure it isnt. as pant catalogued the dehli museum, i assumed it was this one you mentioned. the sword jens listed was lord clives, and sits in powis castle and is of a different type.

13th January 2005, 02:30 PM	#8
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	This sword is not a Tipu bedchamber sword, neither was it found under or on top of him when he was found, but maybe it belonged to one of his body guards. Attached Images

19th November 2017, 02:33 PM	#10
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	I doubt that the hilt is a 'Tipu hilt', as I dont remember to have seen a horse head on any of the hilts attributed to Tipu. The way the ears are turned points towards a Marwari breed. A hilt attributed to South India, possible Maysore 18th century can be seen in 'A Passion for Indian Arms' pp. 266-268.

19th November 2017, 02:53 PM	#11
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,361	The emblem characterizing Tipu Sultan was the tiger. He identified strongly with this symbol and was called the "Tiger of Mysore." There is a very famous item in the V&A Museum called Tipu's Tiger that is a mechanical musical device portraying a tiger eating a European. As Jens states, I cannot recall any iconography associated with Tipu that featured a horse. Ian