The Philippe Missillier Collection Totals €7.5 Million

According to Alexandre Giquello: “The outstanding results achieved over these two days of sales paid a vibrant tribute to Philippe Missillier’s expertise and keen eye. International collectors did not hesitate to recognise the quality and rarity of the pieces presented, driving bidding well beyond the estimates.”

The most coveted items were Napoleon I’s personal artefacts. The highest bid of the sale was for an elegant gold sabre bearing the Emperor’s cipher, which was fiercely contested up to €850,070 (lot 232). This piece was commissioned by the Austrian court in 1810 from Kolbe to commemorate Napoleon’s marriage to Marie-Louise of Habsburg-Lorraine.
The exceptional craftsmanship, the choice of materials, and the symbolic imperial eagle suggest that this sabre was intended for a high-ranking figure of the French Empire. Its case bears the Emperor’s cipher, surmounted by the Iron Crown.

A pair of flintlock pistols belonging to Emperor Napoleon I, commissioned for his personal use from the gunsmith Lepage around 1811–1814, fetched the second-highest bid of the sale at €461,560 (lot 233).
According to Lepage’s delivery records, the pistols were supplied to the Emperor on 2 January 1812. Most likely kept in the carriages Napoleon used, they may have accompanied him during the Russian campaign of 1812.

Among the marvels of European armoury, an exceptionally rare Burgonet in the Oriental style (Zischägge), likely made for a high-ranking member of a noble Central European family (Southern Germany, Augsburg or Nuremberg, circa 1560–1570), tripled its low estimate to achieve €303,310 (lot 70). Designed for cavalry officers, this combat helmet was inspired by the Ottoman çiçak helmet, from which the German name Zischägge derives. While widely used in the 17th century, it fell out of favour by the century’s end, replaced by more modern helmets.

A defining feature of this collection was its universal scope. Philippe Missillier did not limit himself to Europe; his keen eye extended across cultures and continents. In Oceanic art, he selected a u’u club from the Marquesas Islands, probably from the 18th century, once part of the Pierre Weité collection, which sold for €61,980 (lot 297). His fascination with Indian craftsmanship was reflected in his collection of daggers adorned with precious stones, the most coveted of which—a Mughal jade dagger set with rubies and emeralds from the 18th century—exceeded the €100,000 mark, reaching €112,000 (lot 392).

Philippe Missillier (1949–2022)

Both discreet and one of the greatest specialists in antique and collectible arms, Philippe Missillier became, over the years, a key figure in the international market. He advised the world’s foremost collectors and sold to the most prestigious museums.