The Tipu Sultan throne gold finial subject to a temporary UK export bar.
The UK government has issued a temporary export bar for a gold finial that once adorned the throne of Tipu Sultan (1750-99).
Known as the ‘Tiger of Mysore’, he was the ruler of the southern Indian kingdom of Mysore, a renowned army leader and a celebrated hero of colonial resistance. But he was defeated and died in the fourth Anglo-Mysore War against forces from the British East India Company. Following this defeat many objects from his treasury were taken to Britain.