Tipu’s swords to spruce up estate of Cornwallis kin

Two swords belonging to Tipu Sultan, an Indian ruler who fought against British colonizers in the 18th century, will be auctioned off at Christie's in October. The swords, which were seized by the British in 1799, are estimated to fetch between £1.5m and £2m and between £80,000 and £120,000, respectively. The auction is expected to attract interest from Middle Eastern institutions and private collectors, as there has been little interest from Indian buyers since Vijay Mallya purchased a sword associated with Tipu Sultan in 2003.