Posts tagged mauling

‘Tippoo’s Tiger’ is an awesome, life-size beast of carved and painted wood, seen in the act of devouring a prostrate European in the costume of the 1790s. This sculpture/organ is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, originally owned by Tipu Sultan, the “Tiger of Mysore” and avowed enemy of the British in the late 18th century. Concealed in the bodywork is a mechanical pipe-organ with several parts, all operated simultaneously by a crank-handle emerging from the tiger’s shoulder. Inside the tiger and the man are weighted bellows with pipes attached. Turning the handle pumps the bellows and controls the air-flow to simulate the growls of the tiger and cries of the victim. The cries are varied by the approach of the hand towards the mouth and away, as the left arm - the only moving part - is raised and lowered. Another pair of bellows, linked to the same handle, supplies wind for a miniature organ of 18 pipes built into the tiger, with stops under the tail. Now that’s what I call a sculpture. In some charming transmedia work, you can get a Tipu’s iTiger iPhone app, which includes a 3d model of the beast, or watch a half hour video about the history of the piece. Siiiick. (via Christina)
‘Tippoo’s Tiger’ is an awesome, life-size beast of carved and painted wood, seen in the act of devouring a prostrate European in the costume of the 1790s.

This sculpture/organ is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum, originally owned by Tipu Sultan, the “Tiger of Mysore” and avowed enemy of the British in the late 18th century.

Concealed in the bodywork is a mechanical pipe-organ with several parts, all operated simultaneously by a crank-handle emerging from the tiger’s shoulder. Inside the tiger and the man are weighted bellows with pipes attached. Turning the handle pumps the bellows and controls the air-flow to simulate the growls of the tiger and cries of the victim. The cries are varied by the approach of the hand towards the mouth and away, as the left arm - the only moving part - is raised and lowered.

Another pair of bellows, linked to the same handle, supplies wind for a miniature organ of 18 pipes built into the tiger, with stops under the tail.

Now that’s what I call a sculpture.

In some charming transmedia work, you can get a Tipu’s iTiger iPhone app, which includes a 3d model of the beast, or watch a half hour video about the history of the piece.

Siiiick.

(via Christina)