A GERMAN (AUGSBURG) STATE GLAIVE (KUSE) OF AN OFFICER OF THE BODYGUARD OF THE EMPEROR RUDOLF II OF AUSTRIA (1552-1612, reg. 1576-1611)
A GERMAN (AUGSBURG) STATE GLAIVE (KUSE) OF AN OFFICER OF THE BODYGUARD OF THE EMPEROR RUDOLF II OF AUSTRIA (1552-1612, reg. 1576-1611)

DATED 1577

Details
A GERMAN (AUGSBURG) STATE GLAIVE (KUSE) OF AN OFFICER OF THE BODYGUARD OF THE EMPEROR RUDOLF II OF AUSTRIA (1552-1612, reg. 1576-1611)
Dated 1577
With long flat knife-like blade with convex leading edge, back-edged towards the point, and with cusped rectangular socket with a moulding at its base, etched on three-quarters of both sides with a design of interlaced strapwork on a blackened dotted ground (now somewhat worn), on the left side the date, the Emperor's motto 'Ad Sit' ('He (God) be with me', but also an acronym for the motto Auxilium Domini Sit Inquis Terror, The assistance of God is a terror to the evil ones), a double-headed eagle holding an arrow and with an imperial crown above, the Bindenschild of Austria and the number '12', on the right side the crowned letter 'R' with a sword, sceptre, orb, and cross above a shield charged with the arms of Hungary and Bohemia, at the base of the left side of the blade the etcher's monogram 'HS', and at the base of the right side a shield with his coat-of-arms, four straps, and octagonal wooden staff, the upper part studded with iron and brass tacks and with tassel
25 in. (65.4 cm.) head
Provenance
Rothschild inv. no. AR101.
Literature
T. Bruno, 'Zwei Vorzeichnungen zu Kaiserlichen Gardestangenwaffen von Hans Stromaier 1577 und Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach 1705', Jahrbuch der Kunsthistorischen Sammlungen in Wien, vol. 65, Vienna, 1969, pp. 63-73.
Exhibited
Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum, inv. no. A 2254, from 1967.
Augsburg, Welt im Umbruch. Augsburg zwischen Renaissance und Barock, 1980, no. 924.

Lot Essay

This is one of a number of this model carried by the bodyguard of Hartschiere of the Emperor Rudolf II and documented as having been made in Augsburg by the cutler Oswald Salzhuber and etched by Hans Stromaier (circa 1524/5-1583). A full-scale colour-washed pen and ink drawing of one survives in the Vienna archives. As they are individually numbered it is known that at least seventy-four were made, this being the highest number recorded (in the Leibrstkammer, Vienna).
The Habsburg court had two types of bodyguards: the Hartschiere (from the French archiers) who carried glaives, were noblemen; the Trabanten, who carried halberds, were commoners (see the catalogue to the exhibition, Welt im Umbruch. Augsburg zwischen Renaissance und Barock, vol. 2, Augsburg, 1980, pp. 520-3).

More from The Collection of Barons Nathaniel and Albert von Rothschild

View All
View All