Historical Artifact: UK prohibits export of Tipu Sultan's Flintlock Gun valued at £2 Million
In an effort to preserve an 18th-century flintlock gun created for Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysuru, the United Kingdom has placed an export bar on the valuable artifact.
With a value estimated at £2 million, the gun will be temporarily prevented from leaving the country, allowing potential buyers within the UK to come forward for the purpose of public study and education.
Crafted between 1793 and 1794 in India by Asad Khan Muhammed, the 14-bore gun was primarily intended for shooting games.
This 138 cm-long firearm features a hardwood stock with silver mounts, as well as a steel barrel adorned with intricate chiseling and inlays of gold and silver.
Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, the Arts and Heritage Minister, made the decision to impose the export bar on Tipu Sultan's flintlock sporting gun, aiming to facilitate its public display within the UK.
Highlighting the gun's visual appeal and its historical significance in the interconnected history between Britain and India, Parkinson expressed his desire for the widest possible audience to appreciate it, further enriching our understanding of the complex period that shaped both nations.
The export bar was implemented based on the independent advice provided by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest, as announced by the UK's Department of Culture, Media, and Sport.
Tipu Sultan, known as the Tiger of Mysore, fiercely resisted the British East India Company and its allies during the Anglo-Mysore wars. He met his demise on May 4, 1799, while defending his stronghold of Seringapatam (Srirangapatna).
Following his death, his distinctive personal weapons were distributed among prominent military figures. The flintlock gun in question was presented to General Earl Cornwallis, who had previously engaged in conflicts against Tipu Sultan from 1790 to 1792.
The expert committee acknowledged the gun's aesthetic significance and its relevance to the study of Tipu Sultan, his court, Lord Cornwallis, British history, and the conclusion of the third Anglo-Mysorean war.
Their assessment was conducted according to the 'Waverley Criteria,' a set of guidelines established in 1952 to determine the importance of artworks and cultural objects deserving efforts to retain them within the country.
Christopher Rowell, a member of the expert committee, described the gun as "extremely beautiful" and noted its technically advanced mechanism, which allows for firing two shots from a single barrel without reloading.
Rowell expressed his hope that a British institution would acquire this exceptional fowling piece created for the ill-fated ruler of Mysore, Tipu Sultan, ensuring its appreciation by all, given its aesthetic significance, impeccable provenance, potential for further research, and relevance to both British and Indian history.
The decision on the export license application for the gun will be deferred until September 25, 2023. During this period, owners will have 15 business days to consider any purchase offers made at the recommended price of £2 million. If an Option Agreement is signed, the second deferral period will commence, lasting for four months. (Edited)