9th Sep, 2026 11:00
Fine Antique Arms and Armour from the Philippe Missillier Collection
2
A RARE SOUTH INDIAN PATALLAH OR PATISSA, 16TH CENTURY
the broad double-edged blade of finely watered wootz steel swelling to a ‘cobra’s head’ tip, iron hilt of characteristic form comprising a pair of shaped pointed langets of flattened triangular section extending over half the blades length on each side and with beaded borders, chased with running foliage along the edges at the top and with horizontal panels inhabited by pairs of birds to the point, the forte with tapering central ridge and widening to form a pair of blade-catching quillons each pierced and chiselled in the round as a stylised seated lion, bent-up disc-shaped guard with beaded outer border and chased on the underside with flower-heads in circular and foliate borders, the cup-shaped pommel (finial missing) and turned swelling grip chased with decorative borders (some old pitting), 70 cm blade
Provenance
Philippe Missillier Collection, no. 37C
Literature
Robert Hales, Islamic And Oriental Arms And Armour, A Lifetime’s Passion, 2013, p. 193, fig. 465.
A related sword, with a saucer-shaped pommel and khanda blade is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, dated by Philip Rawson to the Deccan, 16th century. (inv. no.1425-1855 IS; Rawson 1968, pl. 40). Rawson describes the hilt type as the ‘old-Indian’ form of khanda hilt. A further sword, with a khanda blade, related quillons and grip but different pommel type, is in the British Museum. (inv. no. 1924,1111.57; Elgood 2004, p. 83, no. 8.12) Elgood notes the type was described as ‘anterior to the seventeenth century’ by Casper Purdon Clarke. This early hilt type was replaced on the khanda in the 17th century by a basket hilt with a long curved finial (Hales 2013, p. 193).
The use of lions or tigers on the hilt is strongly suggestive of royal ownership as written in the Sinhala Vaijayanta. See Elgood 2004, pp. 113-114.
See also a closely related example of this distinctive type sold in this room, 25 June 2008, lot 65.
Sold for £4,500
the broad double-edged blade of finely watered wootz steel swelling to a ‘cobra’s head’ tip, iron hilt of characteristic form comprising a pair of shaped pointed langets of flattened triangular section extending over half the blades length on each side and with beaded borders, chased with running foliage along the edges at the top and with horizontal panels inhabited by pairs of birds to the point, the forte with tapering central ridge and widening to form a pair of blade-catching quillons each pierced and chiselled in the round as a stylised seated lion, bent-up disc-shaped guard with beaded outer border and chased on the underside with flower-heads in circular and foliate borders, the cup-shaped pommel (finial missing) and turned swelling grip chased with decorative borders (some old pitting), 70 cm blade
Provenance
Philippe Missillier Collection, no. 37C
Literature
Robert Hales, Islamic And Oriental Arms And Armour, A Lifetime’s Passion, 2013, p. 193, fig. 465.
A related sword, with a saucer-shaped pommel and khanda blade is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, dated by Philip Rawson to the Deccan, 16th century. (inv. no.1425-1855 IS; Rawson 1968, pl. 40). Rawson describes the hilt type as the ‘old-Indian’ form of khanda hilt. A further sword, with a khanda blade, related quillons and grip but different pommel type, is in the British Museum. (inv. no. 1924,1111.57; Elgood 2004, p. 83, no. 8.12) Elgood notes the type was described as ‘anterior to the seventeenth century’ by Casper Purdon Clarke. This early hilt type was replaced on the khanda in the 17th century by a basket hilt with a long curved finial (Hales 2013, p. 193).
The use of lions or tigers on the hilt is strongly suggestive of royal ownership as written in the Sinhala Vaijayanta. See Elgood 2004, pp. 113-114.
See also a closely related example of this distinctive type sold in this room, 25 June 2008, lot 65.
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
