A large automaton, the tiger is shown in the act of attacking a European man. When played, the man’s left arm flails and the organ emits the sounds of the roaring cat and the cries of its victim.
Who was it made for and why?
it was made for an Indian ruler who spent much of his adult life fighting the British, and it later became a tool for imperial propaganda in Britain.
Tipu Sultan adopted the tiger as a personal symbol of his rule...
representations of tigers decorated his throne, weapons and armor; the tiger stripe motif was painted on walls and used in uniforms; he kept live tigers to guard his palace.
The British referred to him as the “Tiger of Mysore.”
Materials and processes
It combines a painted woodcasing (possibly made by an Indian craftsman) with an internalmetal and ivory mechanism (possibly made by a European craftsman working at his court).
Historical context
Mysore had a hostile relationship with the East India TradingCompany
Four Anglo-Mysorewars1767-1799
Tigers and tiger stripes were part of the decoration of Tipu Sultan's possessions and anything made to proclaim his rule or personal association.
Weighty appearance of the tiger on top of the soldier suggests it's power and dominance - could represent not only India's power and threat over Britain + nature and animals over humanity
