Pair English Ormolu Lamps of Tipu Sultan in Anglo-Indian, Circa 1860s

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Pair of English Ormolu Lamps Depicting Tipu Sultan in Anglo-Indian Orientalist Style, Circa 1860s

A dramatic and finely cast pair … Read more Pair of English Ormolu Lamps Depicting Tipu Sultan in Anglo-Indian Orientalist Style, Circa 1860s

A dramatic and finely cast pair of mid-19th-century English ormolu figural lamps, depicting an idealized version of Tipu Sultan, the storied 18th-century ruler of Mysore, renowned for his resistance against British colonial rule. Executed in richly gilded bronze with intricate detail and now French-wired for electricity, these lamps exemplify the fascination with Eastern royalty that permeated Victorian decorative arts.

Each figure is shown in high relief, dressed in a turbaned headdress and flowing, ornamented robes adorned with floral and textile-like motifs. In his right hand, the figure raises a crescent-topped ceremonial torch, symbolizing authority and spiritual power. In his left hand, he firmly grasps the hilt of a curved scimitar, the blade draped across his robe in a subtle nod to martial prowess and princely sovereignty.

The visual cues—such as the crescent, sword, and Indo-Islamic attire—strongly reference Tipu Sultan as filtered through the Victorian Orientalist imagination, where figures of Eastern nobility were mythologized and reinterpreted for elite Western décor. Each lamp stands on a polished white marble plinth, creating a sharp contrast to the warm gold of the ormolu.

The floral-lobed socket forms resemble stylized lotus petals, extending the theme of exoticism upward into the lighting element. These are rare survivals of Anglo-Indian taste at its most theatrical, likely repurposed from decorative garnitures or candlesticks into table lamps.

Details:
• Origin: England, circa 1860
• Style: Anglo-Indian/Victorian Orientalist
• Material: Gilt bronze (ormolu) with white marble bases
• Wiring: Professionally French wired
• Dimensions (each):
• Base: 3.5” D × 5” W
• Height to socket: 13”
• Figure height: 10”

Symbolism:
• Torch: Power, enlightenment, imperial identity
• Sword: Martial authority and resistance—a key reference to Tipu Sultan’s historical role
• Crescent: A widely recognized symbol in Islamic and Ottoman iconography See less