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The recently discovered gem-encrusted gold finial plundered from Tipu Sultan's huge golden throne is being put up for sale in the British capital on April 2, ten years after it was found lying in the vaults of an English bank.
The object, found by the Bonhams Islamic Department during a routine valuation, is one of three surviving tiger head finials that adorned Tipu's elaborate throne.
It had lain at Featherstone Castle, Northumberland, where it was listed in an 1843 inventory of the late Baron Wallace of Knarsdale (1768-1844), who oversaw the East India Company, and afterwards was hidden away in a bank.
In fact, the famous golden throne was broken up so quickly -- much to the disapproval of the then Governor- General Lord Wellesley -- following the fall of Seringapatam that little is known about the fate of the remaining relics.
However, a large gold tiger head from the front of the throne platform now resides at Windsor Castle, while another surviving finial lies at Powis Castle, acquired by the second Lady Clive in India.
Auctioneers Bonhams, who have described the finial as actually "one of the most important Tipu items ever to appear for sale", valued it at 800,000 pounds, the British media has reported.
"It holds huge fascination for both India and Britain as it is part of our shared history. It is, without a doubt, of the greatest historical significance as it belongs to the most important symbolic object in Tipu's kingdom, his throne, which he refused to mount until he had defeated the British," Claire Penhallurick of Bonhams was quoted as saying.
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very great to have it again ,it tells something very vintresting about tipu sultan
Here's an opportunity for India's diplomatic corps to do something worthwhile for the country. Time to launch a diplomatic offensive and retrieve our treasures from the plunderers. Either that, or ensure that they remain in museums for public display. Or the Queen could order the return of all things that were taken away for personal gain from one of her erstwhile colonies? They may have been intended as a victor's mementoes, but they should belong to the state, and remain as historical memorabilia, and not objects of personal greed, vanity or profit. Let them be treated as non-tradable 'common wealth of the Commonwealth'
now these treacherous dacoits are making money from the loot they have no right to even touch.shame on this nation i wud say, atleast now they should return it to us.
Looks to me firangees are saving their sinking by selling the loot.
The British should return all our treasures back to us .
There nothing to be proud of these trinkets which belong to a generation of rulers of the subcontinent enslaved and exploited by them. If it is brought to India it shold be as a reminder of a disgraceful past. Babri stones also serve as a reminder of the shameful past for the people of India who were so emasculated by generations of rulers that at present we have little to show from more than a billion people! Yes we have shown excelent ability to be slaves by aping blindly and wagging our tails at few crumbs or tucking out tails when a stick is shown.How else can you explain the tiny neighbours playing circus around India?
this is no less significant than the relics of gandhi. How abt getting these back? why all these items ( along with the countless others) stolen from india are still in U.K..
Unfortunately the language of this article is not acceptable to me. I think we Indian should be more proactive as this precious items were basically stolen by the colonial looters. India should learn some positive lessons from Chinese art auction drama rather than paying huge amount of money to these looters.
Egypt made a rule that all Egyptian artifacts belong to the Egyptian State. Why is India acting foolish even after so much time and so many incidents and not doing anything?. All the artifacts together will be worth billions. Is the Indian Govt going to buy one by one??!!!.