9th Sep, 2026 11:00
Fine Antique Arms and Armour from the Philippe Missillier Collection
10
AN INDIAN KHANJAR HILT, 18TH CENTURY
of mutton-fat jade with charcoal grey striations, oval in section indented for the fingers, curved up to a rounded pommel and widening to form a double scroll and the base
12.5 cm high
Provenance
Philippe Missillier Collection, no. 100C
This pistol-grip jade hilt has, unusually, been left entirely without decoration except for the carefully carved finger grips. It may be an extreme example of the austere plain style more often seen on rock-crystal hilts: for example an undecorated rock-crystal peshkabz hilt dated to the 17th century in the al-Sabah Collection in Kuwait (inv. no. LNS 279 HS; Kaoukji 2017, pp. 264-265, cat. no. 98).
of mutton-fat jade with charcoal grey striations, oval in section indented for the fingers, curved up to a rounded pommel and widening to form a double scroll and the base
12.5 cm high
Provenance
Philippe Missillier Collection, no. 100C
This pistol-grip jade hilt has, unusually, been left entirely without decoration except for the carefully carved finger grips. It may be an extreme example of the austere plain style more often seen on rock-crystal hilts: for example an undecorated rock-crystal peshkabz hilt dated to the 17th century in the al-Sabah Collection in Kuwait (inv. no. LNS 279 HS; Kaoukji 2017, pp. 264-265, cat. no. 98).
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
