A SWORD (TULWAR) FROM THE PERSONAL ARMOURY OF TIPU SULTAN...

A SWORD (TULWAR) FROM THE PERSONAL ARMOURY OF TIPU SULTAN (R. 1782-99)
SERINGAPATAM, DECCAN, INDIA, DATED MAULUDI 1224 / 1796-97 AD
The large slightly curved unfullered steel blade double-edged at the tip, one side overlaid with a gilt nasta'liq inscription set within a cartouche, struck with a Mysore Haidar bubri control mark, the blued-steel hilt of typical tulwar form, the tiger head langet extensively inscribed in gold nasta'liq, the grip, knuckle-guard, and quillons similarly inscribed, the date in numerals on the underside of the quillon, the edges of the hilt with bubri tiger-stripe decoration, the disc pommel similarly decorated and with suspension loop fitting, blade cut down
25 ½in. (64.8cm.) long

Provenance
Tipu Sultan of Mysore (1757-1799),
By repute with the Kings of Hanover,
Art market, Germany, by 1985,
Private German Collection, and thence by descent