Lot 2635
An extremely rare Gothic Ahlspiess (awl pike) by Hans Maidburger of Piesting for the Viennese armoury, circa 1497 to 1500
Arms & Armour, and Antique Firearms | A109aw | Live auction | 1369 Lots
Description
Long, sturdy spike of quadrangular cross-section. The mark of Hans Maidburger struck twice at the root. Round associated rondel riveted to the underside. Characteristic long socket, open on the sides. On an old replacement wooden shaft. Length of the head 118 cm, overall length 240 cm. From the collection of the Bürgerliches Zeughaus (Civic Armoury) in Vienna. Records document a second delivery of a total of 320 awl pikes from Piesting in Lower Austria during the period 1497 to 1500. Some of these examples are attributed to Hans Maidburger on the basis of the mark. The current holdings of the armoury still contain approximately 170 awl pikes (inv. nos. 126,008-126.010, 126,050-126.057, 162,449-162.602). Other examples of this group can be found today in numerous international collections. One of the pieces with the armoury mark struck on the shaft and likewise bearing the mark of Hans Maidburger is in the holdings of the German Historical Museum in Berlin (inv. no. W1 23.4), for example. See Müller, Heinrich und Kölling, Hartmut, Europäische Hieb- und Stichwaffen, Berlin, no. 71, pp. 180 and 368. This piece therefore most likely originates from the delivery between 1497 and 1500 for the Viennese armoury, the armoury mark having been struck on the original shaft.Provenance: From a private Viennese collection.
Condition: II Questions about the lot?
