This hilted dagger with a rounded pistol-grip pommel and scroll quillons decorated with vegetal motifs has a smooth 'S' curved shape which is designed such for efficient grip and dynamic movement. Daggers such as this are similar to swords. They are weapons used for aggression, self-defense, and for ceremonial use. Such daggers were also given as gifts by nobles to the emperor or by the emperor to his favourite commanders. Many royal and noble personages can be seen wearing or using such weapons throughout Mughal period (15th-17th centuries) paintings. Inspiration from flora and fauna and visual representations of individual people were developed during the Mughal period.
