Thomas Del Mar Ltd
Lot 125
A GERMAN ETCHED HALBERD FOR THE GUARD OF JOHANN GEORG, DUKE OF SAXONY (1585, ELECTOR 1611-1656), DATED 1604 with tapering terminal spike, forward-leaning curved axe-blade formed with a pair of inward curled lugs, down-curved rear fluke formed with a pair of inward curled lugs, and a pair of long straps, one stamped 'ML', probably the maker, etched on each face with strapwork and leafy tendrils on a stippled ground over the lower portion of the spike extending down to the top of the straps, the axe with the arms of Saxony within a strapwork cartouche enriched with garlands of fruit, one side with the date, the rear fluke with the abbreviated inscription 'I.H.G.H.Z.S' for Johann Georg Herzog zu Sachsen within a panel on a stippled ground and the straps each with a lion mask rondel (small areas of wear), on an early wooden haft, probably its original (areas of worm, the base extended), retaining a portion of its leather trellis binding and an early green silk and silver thread tassel (losses), the haft painted with an inventory number 'Al481', applied with a brass inventory tag 'S.V.G.', and another tag 'L.64.14.39' 78.0 cm; 30 3/4 in head Provenance The former Saxon Electoral Armoury, Dresden Armerican Art Association, New York, 24 November 1928, lot 272 Stephen V. Grancsay (1897-1980), Curator of Arms and Armor, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Howard Ricketts, London Exhibited Brooklyn Museum 1933, cat. no. 316 Allentown Art Museum 1964, cat. no. 93 Johan Georg had a guard of twelve men and one captain from the time of his marriage in 1604, which was augmented to fifty men in Christmas that year. Half were armed with muskets and half with halberds. Another example, still preserved in Dresden, is illustrated Churfürstliche Guardie 2012-13, cat. No. 67.
