Beschreibung:

AN EXTREMELY RARE GERMAN ETCHED STATE GLAIVE (KUSE) OF THE LEIBGARDE DER HARTSCHIERE OF WILHELM V, DUKE OF BAVARIA (R.1579-97,D.1626) Dated 1580 With long flat knife-like blade double-edged towards the point, with cusped rectangular socket with a moulding at its base and extending to form four straps each studded with a series of nails with domed composition heads capped with brass foil, finely etched over two-thirds of its surface on both sides with an elaborate panel, one side centering on a cartouche filled with the quartered arms of the Ducal house of Wittelsbach supporting a lesser cartouche carrying the abbreviated inscription 'W.H.I.B' (Wilhelm Herzog in Bayern), an ermine-trimmed Archducal 'hat' above, and topped by a ribbon etched with the date '1580', augmented by scrolling foliage within the upper portion, and the principal devices retaining traces of original gilding, the opposite side centering on a contemporary warship storm-tossed beneath a ribbon inscribed with the motto 'Gino Suraduce Obduradum', and the latter suspended from clouds parting to reveal a sun-in-splendour, both panels decorated with an arrangement of fruit at the base, etched with the numerical inscription '7' and 'LR', and the entire designs within each panel contrasting against a blackened granular ground: on an early octagonal wooden haft (perhaps the original), painted in the Bavarian State colours and fitted with plain conical iron shoe. 26 i n (66cm) head