AN ETCHED AUSTRIAN STATE GLAIVE FOR THE GUARD OF EMPEROR MAXIMILLIAN II (REIGNED 1564-76), MID-16TH CENTURY

AN ETCHED AUSTRIAN STATE GLAIVE FOR THE GUARD OF EMPEROR MAXIMILLIAN II (REIGNED 1564-76), MID-16TH CENTURY

with knife-like blade retaining some etching including the crowned Imperial eagle enclosed by the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece, the ragged staves of Burgundy dividing the fire steels of the Order, trophies-of-hunting, foliage, traces of the imperial device 'MM', motto and the date (obscured), tapering socket, a pair of straps, on a wooden haft with an additional pair of straps; together with a North European halberd, late 18th/19th century, with long tapering terminal spike formed with a globular basal moulding, curved axe blade pierced with four V-shaped apertures and a further cross-shaped aperture, rear spike en suite with a reinforced tip and decorated over its surface with pointillé, and a pair of shaped short straps on a wooden haft, both supported by a metal and stone stand

the glaive: 96.5cm. head, 38in.; the halberd: 89.5cm. head, 35¼in.