South Indian Sword with Bronze Tiger hilt from Mysore 18th c

A charming sword from the Mysore region of South India. The brass hilt with a large grinning moustached tigers head comlete with bared teeth and ears, the swollen grip descending to two outswept side guards both ending with small makarra dragon heads. The straight blade of very good quality steel, slightly flexible and strong with a facetted edge and long deep fuller running for the its entire length. The tiger was an emblem of Tipu Sultan who adpted it as his persinal emblem, however the tiger was a popular motif for weapons throughout South India and the Deccan. 18th or early 19th century . Indo persian