This halberd, with its slightly concave axe blade, wide apical spike with sharp mid-ridge, strongly curved beak, and fancifully scrolled general outline, is typical of the parade weapons used by palace guards of German princes during the second half of the sixteenth and throughout the seventeeth centuries. Its entire surface, including the square socket and the long steel straps (Schaftfedern) fastening the head to the shaft, is profusely etched with scrollwork and grotesques. On either side of the axe blade is an etched rondel containing the coat of arms of Wolfgang Dietrich von Raitenau, Prince Archbishop of Salzburg, quarterly, 1 and 4 per pale, or, a lion sable, and gules, a fess argent (Salzburg); 2 and 3, argent, a ball sable (Raitenau), surmounted by a cardinal's hat. On a small cartouche approximately in the middle of the spike is etched the date 1589.
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Title:Halberd of Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg (reigned 1587–1612)
Date:dated 1589
Culture:German
Medium:Steel, wood, textile
Dimensions:L. of head 23 7/32 in. (59 cm); W. of head 9 27/32 in. (24.99 cm)
Classification:Shafted Weapons
Credit Line:Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
Object Number:14.25.300
Inscription: Etched on the blade: the date 1589; and the arms of Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg (reigned 1587–1612).
William H. Riggs, Paris (until 1913; his gift to MMA).
Seattle, Wash. Seattle Art Museum. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," March 11, 1982–June 6, 1982, no. 76.
Denver, Colo. Denver Art Museum. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," July 18–October 10, 1982, no. 76.
San Antonio, Tex. Witte Museum of the San Antonio Museum Association. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," November 13, 1982–February 5, 1983, no. 76.
Minneapolis, Minn. Minneapolis Institute of Arts. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," May 24–July 31, 1983, no. 76.
San Francisco. Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," November 5, 1983–January 28, 1984, no. 76.
Detroit, Mich. Detroit Institute of Arts. "The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from The Metropolitan Museum of Art," April 4–June 17, 1984, no. 76.
Potier, O. Baron. "Die Paradewaffen der Erzbischöflichen Trabanten am Hofe von Salzburg." Zeitschrift für historische Waffenkunde, Zeitschrift für Historische Waffen- und Kostümkunde, 3 pp. 280–85, fig. 3.
Schedelmann, Hans. "Die Trabantenwaffen der Salzburger Erzbischöfe." Jahresschrift (1963), pp. 35–41.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Helmut Nickel, Stuart W. Pyhrr, Leonid Tarassuk, and American Federation of Arts. The Art of Chivalry: European Arms and Armor from the Metropolitan Museum of Art: An Exhibition. New York: The Federation, 1982. pp. 121–22, no. 76, ill.
Wagner, Franz. "Die Hofgoldschmiede des Salzburger Erzbishofs Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau." Alte und Moderne Kunst 29, no. 192/193 pp. 1–12 (related objects discussed).
Engelsberger, Ulrike, and Franz Wagner. Fürsterzbischof Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, Gründer des barocken Salzburg: 4. Salzburger Landesausstellung, 16. Mai–26. Oktober 1987 im Residenz–Neugebäude und im Dommuseum zu Salzburg. Salzburg: Salzburger Landesregierung, 1987. pp. 265–69 (arms of the guard of Archbishop Wolf Dietrich discussed).
Nickel, Helmut. "Arms and Armor from the Permanent Collection." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin (Summer 1991), pp. 36, 64, ill.
Ramharter, Johannes. "Der Waffenbesitz der Fürsterzbischofe von Salzburg und sein Verbleib." Mitteilungen der Gesellschaft für Salzburger Landeskunde (2009), p. 329.
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