India: Tipu Sultan's mechanical tiger mauling a British soldier, Mysore, c. 1790

Tipu's Tiger belonged to Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore (1782-1799). The almost life-size wooden automaton represents a tiger mauling a prostrate figure in European clothes. There is an organ inside the tiger's body. When a handle is turned, the organ plays and the victim's arm rises and falls.

The tiger was taken by the British from the palace at Mysorel after the Siege of Seringapatam in 1799. It was sent to the headquarters of the East India Company in London where it was exhibited. It was later transferred to the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensingtion.

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Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

V&A Museum (CC-BY-SA 3.0 License

Credit:

Pictures From History