a rare italian halberd, early 17TH century, probably venetian
with broad central blade pierced with three slots, fitted at the base with a broad steel collar formed of six vertical hoops each interrupted by a chiselled mask, forward leaning pierced axe-blade fitted with a bronze warrior mask on each face, triangular rear-fluke fitted with a pair of bronze masks and pierced en suite, rectangular socket fitted with a spiked transverse bolt, a pair of slender straps, engraved throughout with flowers and linear ornament (worn), on an early studded wooden haft (extensively wormed) with iron shoe
59.0 cm; 23 1/4 in head
A similar halberd is preserved in the Poldi Pezzoli museum, cat. no. 525.