9th Sep, 2026 11:00
Fine Antique Arms and Armour from the Philippe Missillier Collection
36
THREE SMALL OTTOMAN ARCHER’S RINGS, 15TH/17TH CENTURY
each of characteristic beaked form, the first of silver with chased decoration; the second of silver and with similar decoration; the last of bronze and chased with guilloche, length: 2.0 cm to 3.0 cm (3)
Provenance
Philippe Missillier Collection, no. 111C
For examples related to the first two see Mohamed 2008, p. 395, figs. 375 and 376.
A number of Ottoman metal archer’s rings have been published. A silver archer’s ring, dating to the late 15th century, was found near Ramu Fortress, Serbia (Milovanovic 1981, p. 20, no. 10). Plain archer's rings in the British Museum (inv. nos As.9924-As.9931) include a copper alloy example, given by Caspar Purdon Clarke in 1876. See also a group of copper alloy rings probably date from the late 17th century (Vienna 1983, p. 201, no. 16/103).
each of characteristic beaked form, the first of silver with chased decoration; the second of silver and with similar decoration; the last of bronze and chased with guilloche, length: 2.0 cm to 3.0 cm (3)
Provenance
Philippe Missillier Collection, no. 111C
For examples related to the first two see Mohamed 2008, p. 395, figs. 375 and 376.
A number of Ottoman metal archer’s rings have been published. A silver archer’s ring, dating to the late 15th century, was found near Ramu Fortress, Serbia (Milovanovic 1981, p. 20, no. 10). Plain archer's rings in the British Museum (inv. nos As.9924-As.9931) include a copper alloy example, given by Caspar Purdon Clarke in 1876. See also a group of copper alloy rings probably date from the late 17th century (Vienna 1983, p. 201, no. 16/103).
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
