Saddle Cloth thumbnail 1
Saddle Cloth thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
South Asia Gallery, Room 41

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
  • Height: 143.5cm
  • Width: 142.2cm
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
  • Guy, John and Swallow, Deborah (eds.) Arts of India: 1550-1900. Text by Rosemary Crill, John Guy, Veronica Murphy, Susan Stronge and Deborah Swallow. London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1990, reprinted 1999. 240 p. : ill. ISBN: 1851770224. p.184, pl.163
  • The Indian Heritage. Court life and Arts under Mughal Rule London: The Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982 Number: ISBN 0 906969 26 3 p. 92, cat. 237, Veronica Murphy
  • Stronge, Susan, Tipu's Tigers, London: V&A Publishing, 2009 ISBN. 9781851775750 p.24, no. 17
  • Irwin; John, Indian Embroidery (large picture book, no. 7) London: H. M. Stationery Office, Victoria & Albert Museum, 1951 pl.18
Collection
Accession number
784-1864

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Record createdFebruary 10, 2003
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