18th-19th century AD. A pair of architectural brackets carved in three tapering sections, each depicting elephants, attendant figures and warrior riding horse; mounted on custom made brackets. Property of an American lady; acquired 1970s-1990s. For a similar example see the Crow Collection of Asian Art, Dallas, Texas, USA. The large mounted figure is Tipu Sultan, 1750-1799, ruler of the kingdom of Mysore. He was known as the Tiger of Mysore and engaged in expansionist attacks against his neighbours. He remained an implacable enemy of the British East India Company, bringing them into renewed conflict with his attack on British-allied Travancore in 1789. In the Third Anglo-Mysore War, Tipu was forced into the humiliating Treaty of Seringapatam, losing a number of previously conquered territories, including Malabar and Mangalore. He sent emissaries to foreign states, including Ottoman Turkey, Afghanistan, and France, in an attempt to rally opposition to the British. In the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the forces of the British East India Company, supported by the Marathas and the Nizam of Hyderabad, defeated Tipu and he was killed on 4 May 1799 while defending his fort of Srirangapatna. These brackets are closely modeled on the stone carvings on the famous Horse Mandapa in the temple of Srirangam, near Trinchinopoly. 27 kg total, 91.5cm including bracket (36"). [2]

Fine condition.