{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O164700"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O164700/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BW4812/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BW4812/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BW4812","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O164700/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O164700","accessionNumber":"IS.153&A-1964","objectType":"Achromatic telescope","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This achromatic telescope made by the firm of Ramsden, London, in about 1790 belonged to Tipu Sultan, ruler of Mysore from 1782-1799. It was taken from his palace at the Siege of Seringapatam in 1799, when the army of the East India Company defeated and killed Tipu Sultan. The telescope is engraved round the brass mount of the outer section: 'Col. Wemyss Smith. This telescope was taken from the body of Tippoo Sahib at Seringapatam, May 4th 1799'.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Ramsden","id":"A11083"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Casing of wood and brass","categories":[{"text":"Tools & Equipment","id":"THES48883"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2008BW4812"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES415299"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""},{"current":{"text":"006","id":"THES415299"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Telescope","id":""}],[{"text":"Telescope case","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""},{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1790-1799","earliest":"1790-01-01","latest":"1799-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"About 1790"}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"\"Ramsden London\" engraved on the smallest section nearest the eyepiece; \"Col. Wemyss Smith, This telescope was taken from the body of Tippo Sahib, at Seringapatam, May 4th 1799\" engraved round the brass mount of the largest (outer) section.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Owned by Tipu Sultan of Mysore. Taken at Seringapatam in 1799 by Captain Wemyss Smith.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Tipu Sultan's telescope and case, wood and brass, Ramsden, London","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Stronge, Susan, Tipu's Tigers, London: V&A Publishing, 2009 ISBN. 9781851775750","id":"AUTH337013"},"details":"pp.50-51, no. 52","free":"Note - cat. no in book is incorrect.  NOT IS1853"}],"production":"A similar achromatic telescope made by Ramsden is in the National Maritime Museum, London (NAV1678)","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"TELESCOPE:  Engraved round the brass mount of the outer section is 'Col. Wemyss Smith.  This telescope was taken from the body of Tippoo Sahib at Seringapatam, May 4th 1799'.\n\nTELESCOPE\r\nCasing of wood and brass\r\nEngland, made by Ramsden of London\r\nc. 1770\n\r\nIS.153-1964\r\nThe inscription engraved on the brass mount\r\nof the outer section reads ‘Col. Wemyss Smith. This telescope was taken from the body of Tippoo Sahib, at Seringapatam, May 4th 1799’.","date":{"text":"27/9/2013","earliest":"2013-09-27","latest":"2013-09-27"}}],"partNumbers":["IS.153A-1964","IS.153-1964"],"accessionNumberNum":"153","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1964,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE","Telescope case","Telescope"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-07","recordCreationDate":"2008-07-31","availableToBook":false}}