Glaive for the Bodyguard of King of Hungry and Bohemia (Later Emperor) Maximilian II
1563
Medium
Steel, iron, gilding, oak and silk textile (velvet)
Dimensions
Blade with socket L. 65.4 cm (25 3/4 in.) Wt. 5 lb. 13 oz.
Classification
edged weapon-staff
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
106510
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Pole arms (staff weapons) were used not only in warfare and hunting, but also in sporting combat and ceremonies. The term refers to a family of edged weapons attached to wooden staffs. With the exception of the lance, which remained the weapon of the mounted knight, all other staff weapons were wielded by men on foot by 1600. With the development of firearms and their introduction as infantry weapons, pole arms lost their importance on the field, and from the mid-16th century, they were reserved...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...