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his gold tiger head, with tiger stripe settings for the diamonds
and rubies, was certainly part of the regalia of Tipu's throne,
probably the finial of a rod of office. It is a miniature version
of the smaller tiger heads set at each
corner of the throne, one of which survives at Powis Castle, and
was acquired in India by the second Lady Clive, an ardent collector
of Tipu material. This miniature tiger head has subsequently been
mounted as the pommel of a European sword,
and a rather clumsy interpretation of the bubri
motif has been incorporated in the decoration of the hilt.
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