Tiger-Shaped Mortar from India, c.1750-1790 CE: this 239mm (9.4in) caliber mortar is cast in the form of a tiger with the muzzle of the gun protruding from its jaws
This bronze mortar weighs 2,540kg (nearly 5,600lbs) and it's crafted in the shape of a tiger sitting on its haunches with its tail curled above its back. The tiger's face is rendered in elaborate detail, and the muzzle of the gun is nestled in its gaping jaws.
Above: close-up of the tiger's face and mouth
The entire figure is also decorated with stippling patterns that create the appearance of stripes.
Above: this photo shows the tiger cannon devouring a small child
The mortar was created in Mysore, India, during the late-1700s. It was likely commissioned for Tipu Sultan, who ruled as the sultan of Mysore until 1799, when British soldiers seized control of the capital at Srirangapatna, ultimately killing him in battle.
Above: another view of the tiger's body
Tipu Sultan was a pioneer of rocket artillery; he was also known as the "Tiger of Mysore," and various tiger-themed objects were created in his name, including many other cannons and mortars. Some of these guns have similar stylistic elements, depicting a tiger's head with the muzzle of the gun in its mouth, but their design rarely includes the tiger's body.
Above: this cannon features a similar tiger's-head design, but it does not depict the tiger's body; it was created in Tipu Sultan's royal foundry in 1790, and is currently displayed in Chennai, India
Most of the artifacts from Tipu Sultan's court (including more than 900 cannons) were stolen by British soldiers as they ransacked the city of Srirangapatna. Many of those artifacts are still housed in museums, libraries, and private collections throughout the UK. The full-bodied tiger mortar featured in this post is part of the collection at the Royal Armouries Museum at Fort Nelson.
The British Government Should Return Tipu's Treasures to India
Sources & More Info:
Royal Armouries: Tiger Gun
Tiger of Mysore: Tipu Sultan's Sitting Tiger Gun
Weird and Wonderful Weaponry: Tiger Mortar
Government Museum of Chennai: Tipu Sultan Cannon