Saddle Cloth
late 18th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This elaborately decorated saddle-cloth is believed to have belonged to Tipu Sultan of Mysore, who was killed by British forces at the battle of Seringapatam in 1799. This sort of heavy embroidery in gold-wrapped silk thread (known as 'zardozi') on a velvet ground was popular for palace furnishings and animal-trappings throughout much of India during the late 18th and 19th centuries.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Velvet, embroidered with silver gilt thread, wire and sequins |
| Brief description | Tipu Sultan; Animal trappings, velvet, embroidered, S India |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Bought by the South Kensington Museum in 1864 as : "Saddle cloth of crimson Genoa velvet thickly embroidered with gold thread in conventional foliage pattern, &c. Indian, formerly the property of Tippoo Sahib. Received from Stores 15 July 1864. Received from Mrs Williamson. Price £30.00." According to V&A Registry, 6/2/08, there is no nominal file for Mrs Williamson and there are no further acquisition details. |
| Production | Said to have belonged to Tipu Sultan and to have been taken at the Siege of Seringapatam in 1799 |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This elaborately decorated saddle-cloth is believed to have belonged to Tipu Sultan of Mysore, who was killed by British forces at the battle of Seringapatam in 1799. This sort of heavy embroidery in gold-wrapped silk thread (known as 'zardozi') on a velvet ground was popular for palace furnishings and animal-trappings throughout much of India during the late 18th and 19th centuries. |
| Associated object | |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 784-1864 |
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| Record created | February 10, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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