Rare hallebarde gravée de cérémonie pour... - Lot 108 - Pierre Bergé & Associés

Rare hallebarde gravée de cérémonie pour la traBantenleiB-garde de Christian I, prince électeur de Saxe (r. 1586-91), Allemagne vers 1586-1591. A rare German etched State halberd of the traBantenleiB-garde of Christian I, Prince Elector of Saxony (reigned 1586-91), circa 1586-91. The head formed with a strong medial ridge running over its full length above the socket on both sides, long central spike tapering to a narrow sharp point and the edges cusped at the base, axeblade with S-shaped leading edge and the rear edges bouched both at the top and bottom, the rear fluke formed en suite and extending to a down-turned beak with reinforced point, and tubular socket moulded at both ends and extending to form four long straps, finely decorated throughout with etched shaped panels of strapwork punctuated by anthemion-heads, rising to a leafy finial towards the middle of the spike, with a gilt oval strapwork cartouche on both sides of the axe-blade, framing on one side the arms of Saxony and on the other the arms of The Archmarshalship of The Holy Roman Empire, all arranged within a field of close-set scrolling leafy tendrils and the entire etched scheme set against a contrasting blackened ground, the socket gilt, etched with beadwork and cabling over the mouldings, its body en suite with the principal scheme, and the straps etched over their length with an alternating design of vacant and leafy small panels and each terminating in a bud, on its original wooden haft, the upper portion retaining much of the original fabric covering (the haft shoe missing). L. head: 78.5 cm - L. overall: 233 cm. Provenance: The Saxon Electoral Armouries, Dresden.