Auctioneer Bonhams sells Indian sword for ₤14M

Collections in private hands and the trade can contain important objects, while no one has a grip on them. An example is the 18th-century sword stolen by British troops from Seringapatam in India that was featured at the Bonhams auction on May 23rd, 2023.

The sword titled Bedchamber Sword was made by Mughul swordsmiths and stolen from Tipu Sultan (also called Tiger of Mysore) in 1799 after he died fighting against the British East India Company.

The item then was presented to Major General David Baird as a trophy after the battle.

The artifact remained in his family till 2003, when it was auctioned off at Dix Noonana Webb now Noonans for £150,000.

At Bonhams the Bedchamber Sword fetched £14 million.

Two years ago, the UK government issued a temporary export ban on a tiger’s head stolen in the same battle.

The move was criticised at the time by commentators who pointed out that the tiger’s head—like the sword—entered Britain as war loot.