A gem-encrusted gold finial from the golden throne of Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan went under the hammer here today for £434,400 (over Rs 3 crore), a day after a collection of paintings depicting his win over the British in the famous battle of Pollilur sold for £769,250.
The hammer price of the finial, which had a pre-sale estimate of £200,000-300,000, was inclusive of buyer’s premium, auction house Bonham’s said.
A previously unrecorded, contemporary eyewitness account of the siege of Seringapatam and the death of Tipu Sultan, written by Captain Benjamin Sydenham sold for £86,400 at the Indian and Islamic Art auction.
The identity of the buyers was however not known immediately.
The finial is the second to pass through Bonhams Bond Street saleroom here in 18 months. The first finial sold for £389,600 in April last year.
This finial is one of the most important Tipu items ever to appear at auction. It was in the possession of the same Scottish family for the past years 200 years coming down to the present owner by direct descent. The first finial sold at Bonhams had lain in an English castle, for at least 100 years and then in a bank vault, unknown to Tipu enthusiasts and scholars. It was discovered by Bonhams Islamic Department on a routine valuation.
“It is an extraordinary privilege to sell a second such wonderful finial from Tipu Sultan’s throne. To sell one is amazing, but to have two in less than two years is almost unbelievable,” said Claire Penhallurick of Bonhams Indian and Islamic Department.
