May 26, 2023
By: Katya NaiduA sword that once belonged to the 18th century king of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, has fetched a record ₹143 crore in an auction held by Bonhams in London. Like all Indian artefacts, the provenance of the gold koftgari-hilted steel sword is one of intrigue. Koftgari is a type of Indian damascene technique used to decorate arms and weaponry.
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Tipu Sultan is known to have slept in a hammock with this sword and two pistols by his side. After he was defeated in the Battle of Seringapatam in 1799, the sword was found in his bedroom — hence it is referred to as the bedchamber sword.
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After the siege, the East India Company presented the sword to Major General David Baird for his ‘courage during the assault’. Baird had led expeditions in the Middle East and Africa, in addition to India. His successors sold the sword.
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The sword was purchased by Vijay Mallya, the former chairman of United Spirits and the founder of Kingfisher Airlines in 2004. As the airline crash landed, his debts mounted, which he was unable to repay — and had to flee India.
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After Mallya’s great escape, there was a scramble for many assets and this sword was one of them. The authorities had reportedly never found the sword.
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Mallya’s lawyers have said that they had no idea where the sword was. Mallya himself claimed in an affidavit that he ‘gave it away’ in 2016 after his family told him that it brought him bad luck.
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A report by Financial Express says that the sword was purchased by Mallya for a mere ₹1.5 crore. If that’s true then its value has gone up significantly in the last few years.
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Bonhams said the sword was sold after a hot contest where two bidders fought over it. Its provenance, history and craftsmanship is unrivalled, said the auction house Bonhams. The identity of its current buyer is not disclosed.
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“It is a stupendous price for a stupendous piece. I am so thrilled for our teams that worked so hard to deliver this result,” said Bruno Vinciguerra, CEO of Bonhams, as per a Firstpost report.
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