HELBARD Swiss, last quarter of the 16th century,... Lot 1412

HELBARD Swiss, last quarter of the 16th century, Ringier–Zofingen. Square tip, trapezoidal blade with slanted, straight edge, decorated with simple bow-shaped engravings and punctiform perforations, upper and lower edges of the blade as well as the beaked hook with a bow-shaped incisions, struck mark: a square with a diagonal bar and three spheres (= simplified Ringier coat-of-arms). Two langets, one of which is shortened, two shaft bands, ferrule. Octagonal shaft, some traces of worming, carved initials of the owner. L 231.5 cm Provenance: - Collection M. Sigrist. Rare Swiss helbard. Michael, the son of Hans Ringier (mentioned 1538-1567) who was naturalized in Zofingen, held the office of Mayor from 1587 to 1605. The brothers Michael (mentioned 1546-1605) and Jakob (mentioned 1540-1586) practiced the knife- and weapon-making trade. They also made helbards. Cf. H. Schneider: Schweizer Waffenschmiede, 1976, p. 176, incorrect attribution of the mark.