"Fretted" Halberd

Culture Italian

Date1550–1600

Mediumsteel, brass, wood and iron with textiles

Dimensions254 × 63.5 cm (100 × 25 in.), 8 lb, 6 oz (weight)

ClassificationsArms and Armor

Credit LineThe John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection

Terms

Object number2014.203

DescriptionThrusting tip of flattened diamond section, pierced along the medial ridge with 3 longitudinal openings. At base of thrusting tip is openwork globe, having human faces on the struts that make up the globe. Deeply concave crescentic axeblade; stepped fluke. Transverse square-section spikes at midpoint between axe and fluke. Axe and fluke carved in openwork and adorned with brass helmeted faced on both sides. All blade surfaces adorned with elaborate punched decoration.
ProvenanceGift to Higgins Armory Museum from Worcester Art Museum (Worcester, MA) on June 19, 1947. Collection transfer from Higgins Armory, January 2014.

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