A red and green velvet covered war helmet of Tipu Sultan of Mysore (1750-99) decorated with gold thread stumpwork embroidery; with flared neck guard and two ovoid ear guards; fitted with gold damascened nose guard and gold bud finial; surrounded by long, rolled cotton scarf.

Tipu Sultan succeeded as ruler of the South Indian state of Mysore in 1782, where he built a sophisticated and modern court around his palace at Seringapatam. Tipu spent much of his reign engaged in hostilities against the British. In 1792 a peace treaty was signed but the discovery of secret communciations with Napoleon brought about a renewed British campaign against him, culminating in the sack of Seringapatam on 4 May 1799, at which time many of his personal effects were seized.