Antique Arms, Armour & Militaria - Thomas Del Mar

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172
A RARE GERMAN ETCHED HALBERD, DATED 1566
with medially-ridged leaf-shaped central blade etched on
the respective faces with the figure of St George on one
side and an inscription including the date and the initials P
W on the other, all against a stippled ground surrounded by
scrolling leafy tendrils, small axe-blade pierced with five
holes, rear fluke formed with an additional lug above, the
latter stamped with a clover leaf mark on one side, etched
throughout with further tendrils inhabited by exotic birds
(the etching worn), and faceted socket decorated en suite,
on an early fabric-covered wooden haft, fitted with two
pairs of straps on the upper portion and the lower encased
with a trellis pattern of leather studded with large domed
brass nails
46.2cm; 18Din head
Provenance
Schloss Grafenegg, sold Galerie Fischer, Zurich 1934, lot 47
The inscription reads:
“Gott Mein Trost, Aber Jesus Christus Hat Mich von Allen
Suenden Erloest, Anno Domini 1566”
A halberd of similar form struck with the same maker’s
mark and decorated with the Crucifixion on one side and a
standard bearer on the other is preserved in the Royal
Armouries, Leeds. See C. J. Ffoulkes 1915, p. 248. No.
1026.
‡ £4000-6000
76
173
AN ITALIAN ETCHED GLAIVE, LATE 16TH CENTURY,
PROBABLY VENETIAN
with broad knife-like blade formed with a curved leading
edge and curved back-edge, stamped on one side with a
large scorpion mark incorporating a cross above the letter
‘B’, upwardly projecting slender rear spike, a pair of pointed
basal lugs, moulded tapering socket (one small crack), and
a pair of short straps, engraved over the lower portion of
the head with strapwork cartouches filled with stylised
grotesques against a punched ground, over the socket with
flowers within a trellis framework, and all enclosed within a
punched framework, on a later wooden haft
86.5cm; 34in head
Provenance
Schloss Mauensee, sold Galerie Fischer, Zurich, 26-28 May
1932
A similar example struck with the same mark and
decorated with the arms of the Michiel family of Venice is
preserved in the Museo Civico Correr, Venice, inv. no. CC
695. See L. G. Boccia and E. T. Coehlo 1975, no 457.
‡ £2000-3000