Halberd
Unknown Artist
17th century
Medium
Steel, wood
Dimensions
L. 84 in. (213.3 cm); L. of head 13 1/2 in. (34.4 cm); W. 8 5/8 in. (21.9 cm); Wt. 2 lbs. 7 oz. (1110 g)
Classification
Shafted Weapons
Culture
Flemish
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
Accession Number
14.25.225
Art Historical Context
Step into the Arms and Armor gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where this imposing 17th-century Flemish halberd stands as a testament to the era's martial ingenuity. Crafted from steel and wood, the weapon measures an impressive 84 inches (213.3 cm) in length, with a hefty head spanning 13½ inches (34.4 cm) long and 8⅝ inches (21.9 cm) wide, weighing just over 2 pounds (1110 g). Its design—a versatile shafted weapon combining axe blade, spear point, and thrusting hook—made it ideal for infantry combat, allowing soldiers to chop, stab, or pull mounted foes from horseback. Produced in ...