The Tipoo Tiger gravy boat

1978

"Better to live a day of a tiger than a lifetime of a sheep" Tipu Sultan

Based on the tipoo tiger organ in the V&A Museum in London. Designed and made by Roger Michell, decorated by Danka Napiorkowska.

28cm. long

The story : Captain Munroe was the son of the General who commanded the British army that overran Tipoo Sultan's palace at Suringapatum in North-East India. The Sultan Tipoo, whose name means tiger, was both outraged and humiliated when his palace was ransacked by the English. Some years later, General Munroe's son, the young Captain, was apparently selected from a group of soldiers relaxing around a fire, by an intruding tiger and dragged by the head through the woods and later died. The Sultan was delighted feeling that the Tiger had reeked his revenge through the young British army soldier.

Roger and Julia Michell private collection