A gem-encrusted gold finial from the Tiger of Mysore’s octagonal golden throne was auctioned by Bonhams on Thursday in London for £434,400. It had been estimated that it would sell for £200,000-300,000.
The gold finial is the second such finial to pass through Bonhams’ saleroom in 18 months. The first one was auctioned in London by Bonhams in April last year for £389,600.
The two finials are among the three surviving tiger-head finials that adorned Tipu’s elaborate throne, which was broken up by the victorious East India Company soldiers just after they killed Tipu Sultan and after the fall of Seringapatam in 1799.
The large gold tiger head from the front of the throne platform and a jewelled bird can be found at Windsor Castle in the royal collection. The third surviving finial, which was acquired by the second Lady Clive in India, is at Powis Castle.
The second finial, which was auctioned on Thursday, was in the possession of the same Scottish family for the past years 200 years coming down to the present owner, a Canadian, by direct descent.
On Wednesday, a set of 24 paintings, which depict Tipu Sultan’s victory over the British at the Battle of Pollilur in 1780, were auctioned by Sotheby’s for £769,250.
The Bonhams auction on Thursday included a contemporary eyewitness account of the Siege of Seringapatam and the death of Tipu Sultan. The 24-page handwritten account, which had been estimated for £10,000-15,000, sold for £86,400. The account was written by Captain Benjamin Sydenham in form of a letter dated May 25 1799 to George Macartney, 1st Earl Macartney.