My friend Tipu's throne

This incredibly beautiful god tiger head was part of the throne of my old friend Tipu Sultan, way back in 1780. Tipu was famous because his resistance to the British Empire.

The fate of Tipu was sealed when in 1799 the British forces killed him in the infamous Battle of Seringapatam. The problem was that the British wanted to keep full trading powers in exclusivity via their East India Company... and the indians were not happy about the deal.

The battle was lost and British Lt.-General Sir Thomas Bowser, a leader in the British victory was awarded some spoils from that war. This golden head was part of it. 

  This beautiful piece -studded with diamonds, rubies and emeralds- was part of Tipu's throne. Tipu was known as the "Tiger of Mysore" and is considered one of the strongest and best governors that India has had. He loved tigers and used to be surrounded with opulent treasures and to have adopted the tiger as chief symbol of his power. 

Tipu and I used to have Assam tea and talk about tigers. We both loved danger. He surrounded himself with tigers and... I got married. Same thing.

There used to be as many as 10 golden tiger figures like this one.. but they are lost (only three still exists that we know).  this one was just sold by a Canadian family (not mine) for $700,000 as it was inside of a box, in the attic, collecting dust.