Tippoo's Tiger
Automaton with mechanical organ
Wood, painted; with metal and ivory fixtures
India (Mysore), c. 1795
This extraordinary model of a tiger devouring a European belonged to the Indian ruler Tipu Sultan. Tipu was known as the 'Tiger of Mysore' and the automaton was a symbol of his authority and a reflection of his opposition to the British. The tiger houses an organ, possibly the work of a Frenchman in Tipu's service, which simulates its roar and the shrieks of the victim.
After the fall of Seringapatam and the death of Tipu Sultan in 1799, the model was brought to London and was displayed in the museum of the East India Company.
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V&A: 2545 (IS)
Click here to see an animated Tippoo's Tiger.
