AN ITALIAN HALBERD, LATE 16TH CENTURY with long central spike of diamond section, forward-leaning curved axe-blade with reinforced tip, formed with a rounded lug behind the blade at the top and bottom and pierced with two cross-shaped apertures, triangular rear fluke pierced with a series of circles and with reinforced tip, tapering socket, a pair of short straps, and retaining traces of original engraved decoration, on a later wooden haft 88.5cm; 34 7/8in head Another halberd from this group is preserved in the Poldi Pezzoli Museum, Milan, cat. no. 501.