Partisan of the Polish Noble Guard of Friedrich August I of Saxony, who twice ruled as king of Poland (1697–1704 and 1709–1733)
Unknown Artist
ca. 1720
Medium
Steel, pierced, etched, and gilt; wood
Dimensions
L. of head 24 13/16 in. (62.99 cm); W. of head 9 27/32 in. (24.99 cm)
Classification
Shafted Weapons
Culture
German
Department
Arms and Armor
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of William H. Riggs, 1913
Accession Number
14.25.378
Tags
Art Historical Context
This imposing partisan, a polearm weapon with a broad, axe-like blade, hails from the Polish Noble Guard of Friedrich August Ibetter known as Augustus II the Strong—who ruled Poland twice (1697–1704 and 1709–1733) while also serving as Elector of Saxony Crafted around 1720 during his second reign, it embodies the grandeur of early 18th-century European military pageantry. The Noble Guard an elite cavalry unit, royal power and loyalty, parading such ornate weapons in ceremonies that blended Polish and Saxon traditions. The steel head, measuring nearly 25 inches long and 9 inches wide, showcase...