9th Sep, 2026 11:00
Fine Antique Arms and Armour from the Philippe Missillier Collection
1
A FINE AND RARE LARGE SAWASA WARE CENSER, 18TH CENTURY
of rectangular form and of gilt and black lacquered copper, the body with slightly downcurved sides each centred on a gilt panel cast, pierced and chased in relief against a finely punched ground with prunus inhabited at the front and back with birds and a tiger between engraved and gilt flowering foliage, and on the sides with landscape scenes involving trees, birds, pagodas and figures aboard a boat on one side and prunus and two cranes on the other, all between deeply cusped corner mounts, curved handles each with vertical central slot flanked by finely punched recesses, engraved with a foliate lotus blossom at the top and with a crane on the outside at the bottom, the detachable top on cusped and petalled mounts and engraved around the edges with flowering scrolling foliage, slightly domed lid pierced and chased in low relief with scrolling foliage inhabited by two dragons within an engraved border and surmounted by a karashishi formed in the round, on four scrolled feet engraved with scrolling foliage, and in fine condition retaining virtually all its gilt and lacquered finish, 25.0 cm high, 25.5 cm wide and 14.0 cm deep
Provenance
Philippe Missillier Collection, no. 52C
Exhibited
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, 28 November 1998, 28 November - 28 February 1999, E.2.1
Literature
Bas Kist et al, Sawasa Japanese export art in black and gold 1650-1800, exhibition catalogue, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, 28 November 1998 – 28 February 1999, p. 105, E.2.1
Sold for £13,000
of rectangular form and of gilt and black lacquered copper, the body with slightly downcurved sides each centred on a gilt panel cast, pierced and chased in relief against a finely punched ground with prunus inhabited at the front and back with birds and a tiger between engraved and gilt flowering foliage, and on the sides with landscape scenes involving trees, birds, pagodas and figures aboard a boat on one side and prunus and two cranes on the other, all between deeply cusped corner mounts, curved handles each with vertical central slot flanked by finely punched recesses, engraved with a foliate lotus blossom at the top and with a crane on the outside at the bottom, the detachable top on cusped and petalled mounts and engraved around the edges with flowering scrolling foliage, slightly domed lid pierced and chased in low relief with scrolling foliage inhabited by two dragons within an engraved border and surmounted by a karashishi formed in the round, on four scrolled feet engraved with scrolling foliage, and in fine condition retaining virtually all its gilt and lacquered finish, 25.0 cm high, 25.5 cm wide and 14.0 cm deep
Provenance
Philippe Missillier Collection, no. 52C
Exhibited
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, 28 November 1998, 28 November - 28 February 1999, E.2.1
Literature
Bas Kist et al, Sawasa Japanese export art in black and gold 1650-1800, exhibition catalogue, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, 28 November 1998 – 28 February 1999, p. 105, E.2.1
Auction: Fine Antique Arms and Armour from the Philippe Missillier Collection, 9th Sep, 2026
Over a period of half a century, Philippe became one of the leading connoisseurs and independent scholars in the field of antique arms and armour from Europe, India and the Islamic world. Consulted by the world’s leading museums and collectors, Philippe possessed a remarkable eye for quality and rarity which is reflected in the objects offered in this sale.
His company was enjoyed at countless exhibitions and sales around the world, where he would greet colleagues with a hummed fanfare, invariably followed by a profound observation imbued with wit and scholarship in equal measure. Philippe belonged to a generation that truly mastered its subject, visiting every museum and attending as many auctions as he could while simultaneously assembling an important library.
A number of the pieces offered here were published in ‘Splendeur des Armes Orientales’, a landmark exhibition catalogue co-authored in collaboration with Howard Ricketts in 1988, and remains a standard reference today. Philippe wore his immense knowledge lightly, balancing academic rigour with good humour, listening generously to the opinions of colleagues, and invariably raising a smile.
Viewing
PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 6th September June: 12pm - 4pm
Monday 7th September: 10am - 7pm (Drinks 6-7pm)
Tuesday 8th September: 10am - 5pm
CONTACT:
For further information please contact us | armsandarmour@olympiaauctions.com | + 44 (0) 20 7806 5541
