Tipu Sword

[Jim McDougall]

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).

[Likhari]

Thanks for the beautiful and detailed response Jim. You are a true scholar and a gentleman. Tipu Sultan was unique among Indian princes because he developed a design element around the tiger which makes objects associated with him so easily identifiable. Here is an example:

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Likhari

Thanks for the beautiful and detailed response Jim. You are a true scholar and a gentleman. Tipu Sultan was unique among Indian princes because he developed a design element around the tiger which makes objects associated with him so easily identifiable. Here is an example:

Thank you so much Likari for those very kind words. Tipu Sultan is a fascinating subject in the intriguing fields of study on India and its arms and armour, and it is great to have you posting these examples and bringing forward more discussion.