This Mughal sword handle has been finely carved in the shape of a horse. The details of the horse's head are incredibly depicted, with the eyes wide open, nostrils flared and the mouths slightly open, while the crane gracefully falls down on one side of the neck. Below, the block is carved with upward broad leaves which end in curls on both sides, with a motif of acanthus leaves sprouting from the centre. This is an excellent example of the mastery of the artisans in carving rock crystal.
Comparable examples to this piece were also made carving other types of hardstones as well, such as a sword handle made of jade housed at the Metropolitan Museum (18th-19th century; accession number 02.18.778).