DATED 1609
Details
A Halberd Of The Bodyguard Of Duke Johann Georg Of Saxony
Dated 1609
The head comprising a flat axe-blade with concave cutting-edge, cusped at the rear, flat claw-shaped fluke, slender spike widening into a cusped base, tapering socket and two side-straps, the centre etched on each face with a shaped panel of scrollwork on a blackened dotted ground, the fluke with the letters 'H.G.H.Z.S.' and the faces of the blade with respectively the arms of Saxony and the arms of Merseburg, each accompanied by the letters 'S.V.M.C.', and the date 1609, on later wooden staff
28½in. (72.4cm.) head
The letters stand for 'Hans Georg Herzog Zu Sachsen' (Hans Georg Duke of Saxony) and 'Scopus Vitae Mihi Christus' (My life's goal is Christ). The halberd is one of a series made for Johann Georg as Administrator of the Bishopric of Merseburg. A second series, dated 1611, the year in which he became Elector of Saxony, have the first inscription expanded to incorporate his new titles. See von Kienbusch Collection, No. 573, and H. Müller and H. Kölling, Europäische Hieb- und Stichwaffen, 1984, No. 255
Dated 1609
The head comprising a flat axe-blade with concave cutting-edge, cusped at the rear, flat claw-shaped fluke, slender spike widening into a cusped base, tapering socket and two side-straps, the centre etched on each face with a shaped panel of scrollwork on a blackened dotted ground, the fluke with the letters 'H.G.H.Z.S.' and the faces of the blade with respectively the arms of Saxony and the arms of Merseburg, each accompanied by the letters 'S.V.M.C.', and the date 1609, on later wooden staff
28½in. (72.4cm.) head
The letters stand for 'Hans Georg Herzog Zu Sachsen' (Hans Georg Duke of Saxony) and 'Scopus Vitae Mihi Christus' (My life's goal is Christ). The halberd is one of a series made for Johann Georg as Administrator of the Bishopric of Merseburg. A second series, dated 1611, the year in which he became Elector of Saxony, have the first inscription expanded to incorporate his new titles. See von Kienbusch Collection, No. 573, and H. Müller and H. Kölling, Europäische Hieb- und Stichwaffen, 1984, No. 255