Details

LOT 1056

Post Medieval Iron Pike Collection

16TH-18TH CENTURY A.D.

89 - 92 1/8 in. (6.3 kg total, 2.26-2.34 m).

Comprising three weapons: a 'ronca contadina' (peasant scythed staff weapon, known as forest bill) made of trunco-conical tubular gorbia with tapering iron shaft, inclined to the right with respect to the axis of the weapon, ending in a bill; an alabarda-sergentina, iron blade halberd with central rib, two axe-heads, one convex one concave; an alghiero, guisarme with tapering pointed iron shaft of rectangular section, furnished with a side-bill; all three mounted upon wooden velvet-covered shafts. [3]

Provenance

Ex Christie's, Holland, circa 2010.
East Anglian private collection.

Literature

Cf. Mauro, M., Armeria della Rocca, mostra di armi antiche, Ancona, 1989, no.124; Pinti, P., Armi e Arte, un viaggio per musei, chiese e castelli alla ricerca di armi antiche, alla ricerca di cose belle (Weapons and Art, a journey through museums, churches and castles in search of ancient weapons, in search of beautiful things, in Italian,) Ascoli Piceno, 1997, p.96; Troso, M., Le Armi in Asta delle Fanterie Europee 1000-1500 (Pole Weapons of European Infantry 1000-1500, in Italian), Novara, 1988, p.58, fig.2.

Footnotes

Certainly the most interesting of the three weapons is the peasant roncone. The hooked part of the weapon could be used to hook or cut things, but also for severing a horse's hocks causing both horse and rider to fall.