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This is the seal of Sultan Fateh Ali Tipu (1750-1799), the 'Tiger of Mysore' used by him to confirm official documents. It has been in the Powell-Cotton family at Quex Park, Birchington, Kent probably since the early 1800s.
Tipu ruled the Kingdom of Mysore, a large part of southern India, suceeding his father, Hyder Ali (1722-1782). Under them the Kingdom increased in military power and size. The four Anglo-Mysore Wars between 1766 and 1799 saw advantage swing back and forth, both Hyder Ali and Tipu inflicted some crushing defeats on the British East India Company army. Tipu was finally defeated and killed at the Battle of Seringapatam in 1799.
Tipu was innovative in his use of technology. He, and his father, pioneered the use of solid fuel rockets in battle. Attacks by his rocket brigades were spectacular and successful. After his defeat captured rockets were taken to the Royal Woolwich Arsenal and Mysorian rocket technology was used by the British during the Napoleonic Wars.