Rare Islamic Arms & Armour Collections to Be Sold at Sotheby’s Auction

One of the most significant collections of Islamic arms and armour, featuring pieces from the Safavid, Ottoman, and Mughal empires, will be offered in an exclusive auction in London on April 29th and the 30th. Before the auction, the collection will be exhibited at Sotheby’s Dubai from April 7th to the 11th, and later at Sotheby’s London from April 25th to the 28th.

Including over 100 pieces and covering more than 500 years of history, the collection includes rare Mamluk and Aq Qoyunlu artefacts, as well as significant artworks. Among its highlights are Turkenbeute pieces from the Siege of Vienna, and the personal swords of two renowned historical figures: Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and French army officer Claude Martin.

The collection was assembled by Philippe Gilles René Missillier (1949-2022), a scholar and collector who spent over 50 years acquiring, studying, and documenting artefacts from museums, auctions, and historical references. These pieces reflect the artistic and technological evolution of weaponry across various Islamic dynasties, from Spain to Indonesia, highlighting the transition from the equestrian age of chivalry through the gunpowder revolution, showcasing centuries of craftsmanship and innovation.

The collection was showcased in 1988 in Paris in an exhibition titled ‘Splendour des Armes Orientales’ and was the largest exhibition of its kind in the 20th and 21st century. This upcoming exhibition and auction will mark its first public appearance since then.

On April 29th, Sotheby’s will present the collection in an exclusive standalone sale, followed by its inclusion in the biannual Arts of the Islamic World & India sale on April 30th. Among the most significant pieces in the first auction is the ‘World Capturer’ sword of Shah Jahan, a 17th-century North Indian weapon valued at an estimated GBP 600,000 to GBP 800,000. Another highlight is an Aq Qoyunlu turban helmet from late 15th-century Northwest Persia, which is expected to sell for GBP 150,000 to GBP 200,000.

The auction on April 30th will feature several historically significant artefacts, including a finely illuminated Qur’an copied by Jalal ibn Muhammed Bakalinjar al-Dayalami in 16th-century Shiraz, Persia, valued at GBP 250,000 to GBP 300,000. Also included in the sale is an early 13th-century astrolabe, formerly owned by Napoleon Bonaparte’s Chief Surgeon, estimated at GBP 100,000 to GBP 150,000. Another notable item is a collection of seven Company School paintings of birds, commissioned by Major General Claude Martin (1735-1800).