'Tippoo's Tiger'
Mechanical organ Automaton
Artist/designer unknown
Artist unknown
Mysore, India
Around 1793
Painted wood
Length 178 cm x Height 71 cm x Width 61 cm
Museum no. 2545(IS)

This wooden model of a tiger mauling a European was taken from Tipu Sultan's palace after his death. The man lies on his back while the tiger sinks its teeth into his neck. When the handle on the side of the tiger is turned, the man's left forearm moves back and forth between his mouth and the tiger's ear, while bellows inside cause the animal to growl and the man to emit a plaintive whooping sound. A flap near the handle can be opened to reveal organ pipes and a keyboard with button keys of ivory.