A GERMAN STATE HALBERD OF THE BODYGUARD OF ARCHDUKE ERNST OF AUSTRIA (1553-1605)

DATED 1593

Details

A GERMAN STATE HALBERD OF THE BODYGUARD OF ARCHDUKE ERNST OF AUSTRIA (1553-1605)
Dated 1593
With double-edged spike with medial ridge on each side and tapering point, flat blade with concave leading edge, small flat downcurved fluke, and open socket with iron clamp (now incorrectly positioned), both sides etched with foliate scrolls on a blackened dotted ground, on each side of the spike Ernst's monogram flanked by palm and laurel branches, on the left side of the blade the archducal arms within the Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece, with an archducal bonnet above, and on the right side the fire steels and ragged staves of Burgundy, the fluke dated on each side, four straps, and wooden staff of octagonal section (mainly replaced)
24 in. (61.6 cm.) head

Provenance

Rothschild inv. no. LR355.

Lot Essay

This is one of a series made for the Trabanten of Archduke Ernst, and commemorates the year he assumed the title of Governor of the Netherlands.

There are others from the series in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no. 04.3.67), in the Museum fr Deutsche Geschichte, Berlin (inv. nos. W 65-9), and in the Wallace Collection, London (inv. no. A 953).

More from The Collection of Barons Nathaniel and Albert von Rothschild

View All