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The recently discovered finial from the octagonal golden throne of Tipu Sultan will go under the hammer at Bonhams on April 2.
Ten years after being found lying in the vaults of an English bank, a gem-encrusted gold finial plundered from Tipu Sultan's huge golden throne is being put up for sale in London.
Auctioneers Bonhams, who describe the finial as 'one of the most important Tipu items ever to appear for sale', have valued it at around 800,000 pounds($1,153,700 approx).The tiger-head finial was one of eight that stood on each end of a gigantic gold octagonal throne in Seringpatnam, on which Tipu - a legendary admirer of the tiger - would have sat cross-legged, but didn't because he vowed not to mount it until he had defeated the British.
It was discovered during a routine inspection by auctioneers in the late 1990s, having lain in an English castle for at least 100 years and then in a bank vault.
Only two more of the eight finials are known to exist - one is in the Clive Collection in Wales. Another briefly appeared in a London dealer's catalogue in the 1970s, never to be seen again, Claire Penhallurick of Bonhams Indian and Islamic Department, told IANS Friday.
The tiger head finial will go under the hammer on April 2.
