Gold tiger’s head worth £1.5million that once adorned an 18th-century Indian ruler’s throne must stay in the UK under a temporary export ban

  • A gold tiger’s head must remain in Britain under a temporary export ban
  • The head that once adorned the throne of an 18th-century Indian ruler
  • Lord Parkinson, Whitley Bay’s arts minister announced the export ban










A gold tiger’s head that once adorned the throne of an 18th-century Indian ruler must remain in Britain under a temporary export ban.

The finial, or ornamental furniture decoration, pictured, is set with rubies, diamonds and emeralds and is worth an estimated £1.5million.

The current owner had put it up for sale in Britain before Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay announced the ban on exports.

A gold tiger’s head that once adorned the throne of an 18th-century Indian ruler must remain in Britain under a temporary export ban

A gold tiger’s head that once adorned the throne of an 18th-century Indian ruler must remain in Britain under a temporary export ban

This was the eight-headed gold tiger head that sat on Tipu Sultan’s throne, the ruler of the ex-Kingdom of Mysore.

Known as the ‘Tiger of Mysore’, he was considered the greatest threat to the British East India Company until his defeat and death in 1799.

The throne was broken up by British Army agents and its parts, as well as other objects from Tipu’s treasury, came to the UK amid great public interest.

The tiger’s head is one of four to survive and the temporary ban was imposed in the hope that a UK buyer such as a gallery may be found, Lord Parkinson said.

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