WD4242

The throne of Tipu Sultan in the Lal Mahal at Seringapatam, an arcade across the front supported by two pillars, and a Persian inscription above the arch. Behind the throne a green wall with central door and two barred windows. Vertical rows of red tiger stripes up the wall and pillars.

Inscribed: ‘Thos. Marriott A.D.C. to the Comder. in Chief. Madras Aug. 6 1799. Front view of the Throne of the late Tippoo Sultaun in the Laul Mahaul (Palace) of Seringapatam. The solid Part of the Throne is made of the heavy Blackwood, over which is nailed on a Coat of the purest Gold, about as thick as a Guinea: the Workmanship, especially of the indented Tiger stripes, is very beautiful & highly polished. The Tiger’s front is only seen in the above, but his Rear and Tail reach to behind the Throne: at the two Ends are little Golden Steps to mount by, at each side of which & the four principal Corners, are smaller Tiger’s Heads. The Length is about 8 feet, & breadth about 5: the height about 4 feet. The canopy is made of a lighter Wood, but covered with Gold inside & out, the same as the body of the Throne. The fringe is entirely made of small Pearls, & on the top is a Bird representing the Hummah (a fabulous royal Bird) which is entirely composed of Diamonds, Rubies & Emeralds - its body is about the size of a Partridge: but the Tail longer & broader than that of a Pheasant; its Beak consists of one large & beautiful Emerald, with another suspended thereto.’

‘In the rear of the Throne, is seen the Door & two grated Windows, of the Room in which Tippo Sultaun always slept. It has no other Entrance or Windows: the latter are made of strong Bars of Iron & the Door of very thick Wood. His Cott, with Silver Legs about six inches long, was slung by the four Corners to the Roof of the Ceiling, but only about ten inches from the Ground, to prevent Snakes or Vermin from getting upon it.’

‘Throughout the whole of the Palace (which is painted as above, Green with Red Tiger Stripes) are written near the Ceiling, Persian or Arabic Verses importing the Grandeur & Magnificence of this Prince; such for Instance as I have above written viz “The Lion or Leo was the Planet of this Lord of Strength”, “The Eyes of whose Enemies, turn blind at the sight of them (Tippo)”. “The Sun (at his Birth) received Honor from being in the Sign Aries”. He thereby united or gained Knowledge, Learning, Science & Strength at the same Instant. The Canopy is supported (tho I could not well in a ‘front view’ bring it in) by a Strong Iron Bar curved gracefully & gilded. NB. The Throne being now broken to pieces by the Prize Agents, the above mentioned Bird has been sent as a Present to her Majesty by the Rt. Hon. the Earl of Mornington Governor General’.

Pen and ink and water-colour; 11.5 by 20 cm, page 23 by 20 cm.

Purchased 1991.

Note: Lady Clive referred to the drawing when she wrote to her husband, the Governor of Madras, on 12 July 1800 from Seringapatam, during a tour of South India accompanied by her two daughters and their governess-drawing mistress Anna Tonelli, see WD4236-7. This letter in the Clive papers at Powis accompanied a drawing of the throne by Anna Tonelli, likewise still at Powis, which she states was based on Marriott’s sketch and on a model. After the breaking up of the throne in 1799, the only surviving fragments are the large frontal tiger head and the huma bird on the canopy, in the Royal Collections, and two or three of the smaller tiger heads. Marriott’s description mentions that the throne had been broken up by August 1799. Anna Tonelli’s drawing is very inaccurate, and in particular reduced the size of the covering canopy. A more accurate representation was made long afterwards from memory by Prince Ghulam Muhammad, Tipu’s son, published in 1855, which closely resembles Marriott’s drawing.