PARTISAN

Electoral Saxon, 1694/97, for the Trabant Foot Guards of the Elector Frederick Augustus I, from 1697 King Augustus II of Poland.
Long blade with a central ridge; the lower part, on both sides featuring wings with ornamental incisions and small decorative hooks; opulent etched tendril decoration. Base of the blade with etched decoration: Electoral initials "CFA"; on the opposite side the Saxon double coat of arms under the Electoral Hat. The conical socket is delimited by two annular beads. Two langets, round shaft lined with red velvet, highly rubbed. Brass decorative rivets. Remains of the probably original tassel.
L 234.5 cm.

Provenance:
K. Eichbaum Collection, formerly Fischer-Luzern, 24.6.1963, No.122.

A rare weapon of the Trabant Guard, established around the middle of the 16th century. The trabants had to guard the Elector and King, his court and his possessions. Cf. K. Hilbert, Blankwaffen aus drei Jahrhunderten, Berlin 1998, pp. 124/125. Laking, Wallace Collection, Nos. A1002 and 1003.