A GERMAN ETCHED HALBERD FOR THE SAXON ELECTORAL GUARD, 17TH CENTURY, with tapering terminal spike formed with a medial ridge, forward-leaning recurved axe-blade formed with an inward curled lug, down-curved rear fluke formed with an up-turned lug, and a pair of straps, 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 socket, the axe with the Ducal arms of Saxony within a strapwork cartouche on one face and the Archmarshallship of the Holy Roman Empire on the other (areas of wear), on a studded wooden haft (the top chipped) with later tassel, 56.0 cm head Provenance The former Saxon Electoral Armoury, Dresden