Liquor baron Vijay Mallya has bought several items related to former Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan at a Sotheby's auction in London.
He spent 1 million pounds for his new acquisitions.
Mallya, chairman of the United Breweries group, who took back Tipu Sultan's majestic sword to India two years ago, this time bought a silver-mounted flintlock sporting gun from the personal armoury of the 'Tiger of Mysore'. He spent 120,000 pounds for it.
Other major items which went under the hammer on Wednesday were a rare three-pounder bronze cannon on its presentation field carriage from Tipu's palace (72,000 pounds), a three-pounder bronze cannon from Tipu's palace (66,000 pounds) and an exotic gem-set trophy sword from Srirangapatnam (60,000 pounds).
There were also a 14-bore silver-mounted flintlock fowling piece from Tipu's armoury (50,400 pounds), a very rare sword with bubri-patterned watered blade from his palace armoury (50,400 pounds) and an extremely rare quilted helmet from the late 18th century in Mysore (43,200 pounds).
Commenting on the sale, Edward Gibbs, head of Sotheby's Islamic department, said: "We are delighted with the results of the sale. There was competitive bidding from the sale room and on the telephones, and an exceptional result was achieved for this unique collection."
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