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Side B
Halberd for the Guard of Prince Karl I of Liechtenstein (1569-1627)
Side B
Image © Worcester Art Museum, all rights reserved.

Halberd for the Guard of Prince Karl I of Liechtenstein (1569-1627)

Culture
Date1620–1622
Mediumetched and blackened steel, wood and textile
Dimensions179.8 × 30.2 × 108.5 cm (70 13/16 × 11 7/8 × 42 11/16 in.), 5 lb, 5 oz (weight)
ClassificationsArms and Armor
MarkingsThe old Liechtenstein inventory number 1861 is stamped on a brass plaque nailed to the obverse of the haft below the langet. No other marks visible.
Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection
Object number2014.186
DescriptionShortened. Broad double-edge thrusting blade of lozenge section tapering to blunted point. Tall axehead with concave cutting edge, cusped above & below & opposed by downcurved fluke similarly cusped. Socket formed by pair of wide long langets secured to section of original walnut (?) staff with restored gold & red tassel at base of head.

Obverse of head with princely arms (Prince Liechtenstein (Kernring, Liechtenstein [-Nikolsburg], Trappau and Silesia) beneath the Furstenhut, insignia of a Prince of the Habsburg empire on axe blade (see digital file). Ground of axe & fluke filled with foliation on finely stippled blackened ground. Extending along medial line on both faces are ascendant leaf-like motifs. Reverse of head with Karl's crowned monogram of 2 addorsed & conjoined "C"'s with pair of crossed palm fronds, background same as obverse.

Near the top of the haft the wood is wrapped in red velvet, at the base of which is a pendant red fringe. Wrapped above, and overlapping the wrap underneath, is a woven trellis-work pattern of red and gold thread, at the base of which is another pendant red fringe.

The head is fairly large, with a long, double-edged apical blade of flattened diamond section ending in a spatulate point. The base of the blade at the socket is concave at its sides. The asymmetrical axe blade has a concave cutting edge, is cusped at the inner edges above and below, and is opposed by a downturned, pointed fluke similarly cusped. The base of the socket extends down the obverse and reverse faces in a pair of think tapering langets, through which the head is nailed to the haft. On both faces the halberd socket and apical blade (at its mid-height) are etched with an ascendant stalk design on a plain blackened ground. This is continued onto the langets as an ascending stalk with lobated projecting swellings. Both faces of the axe blade and fluke are etched with foliate scrollwork on a blackened, stippled ground.

The obverse of the axeblade is centrally etched with the quartered arms of the Princes Liechtenstein (Kuenring, Liechtenstein[-Nikolsburg], Trappau and Silesia) beneath the Fuerstenhut, insignia of a Prince of the Habsburg empire. The reverse face is etched with Karl's monogram, which consists of two crossed palm fronds superimposed with two addorsed, intertwined Cs (for Carolus), the whole surmounted by a coronet.

The oaken (?) haft is stained dark brown, and is of flattened, octagonal section, the angled faces slightly rounded. Near the base of the langets the faces aligned with the axe and fluke are strenghted with metal straps nailed to the haft. Near the top of the haft the wood is wrapped in red velvet, at the base of which is a pendant red fringe. Wrapped above, and overlapping the wrap underneath, is a woven trellis-work pattern of red and gold thread, at the base of which is another pendant red fringe.
Label TextBodyguard weapons were often personalized for the nobleman who commissioned them. This halberd features elaborate floral patterns and the Liechtenstein family coat of arms. The graceful curve of the axe blade, echoed by the smaller cutouts around the head, adds to its visual effect. However, it also reduced the weapon’s functionality, because the axe would be ineffective at chopping. These design elements reflect the transition of the halberd from military to ceremonial roles.ProvenanceCollection of the Princes Liechtenstein (Vaduz), inv no 1861 Dr. Bashford Dean #J-65 in the Mackay Collection Purchased by the John Woodman Higgins Armory from Gimbel Brothers Hammer Galleries, New York, N.Y. on October 31, 1941. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.
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