Halberd
Unknown Artist
dated 1580
Medium
Steel, wood
Dimensions
L. 93 1/4 in. (128.3 cm); L. of head 30 3/4 in. (78.1 cm); W. 10 3/4 in. (27.3 cm); Wt. 6 lbs. 1.1 oz. (2752.7 g)
Classification
Shafted Weapons
Culture
German
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Frederick C. Hewitt Fund, 1912
Accession Number
12.141.8
Tags
Art Historical Context
This formidable German halberd, 1580, exemplifies the craftsmanship of late Renaissance arms and armor. Measuring a full 93¼ inches (128.3 cm) in length—with a hefty steel head spanning 30¾ inches (78.1 cm) wide at 10¾ inches (27.3 cm)—it weighs over 6 pounds (2752.7 g). Fashioned from durable steel for the blade and piercing elements and a sturdy wooden shaft, this shafted weapon was designed for infantry combat, blending thrusting, slashing, and hooking capabilities in the hands of soldiers like the famed Landsknecht mercenaries. Its cultural significance lies in the turbulent era of the la...