Detail

Of the twelve ancient golden crowns extant today in the world, seven are from the Silla period and two are from Gaya. This makes Korea a kingdom of golden crowns. Sillas golden crowns are priceless objects of world cultural heritage that boast exquisite craftsmanship, and they embody the glorious Silla civilization of golden sculptures and adornment. The golden crowns of Silla are brilliant as their crown bases are attached to uprights that feature embellishments of comma-shaped jade ornaments and tiny gold disks. Inside the outer diadem is the inner diadem, which was designed to hide the topknot. Inner diadems often featured feather-shaped ornaments. Dangling pendants made of gold would hang from both sides of the crown to give visual balance. Gold Crown from Geumgwanchong Tomb measures 44.4cm in height and 19cm in diameter. It features three tree-shaped uprights with three branches each, and two antler-shaped uprights. The crown is decorated with comma-shaped jade ornaments and gold disks. (National Treasure 87, Gyeongju National Museum) Gold Crown from Geumnyeongchong Tomb measures 27cm in height and 15cm in diameter. It has three tree-shaped uprights with four branches each, and two antler-shaped uprights. The crown boasts great splendor with embellishments of many small gold disks, despite the absence of jade mountings. (Treasure 338, National Museum of Korea) Gold Crown from Seobongchong Tomb measures 30.7cm in height and 18.4cm in diameter. It features three tree-shaped uprights with three branches each, and two antler-shaped uprights. Three bird-shaped ornaments are attached to branches extended from one of the uprights. (Treasure 339, Gyeongju National Museum) Gold Crown from the North Mound of Hwangnamdaechong Tomb measures 27.5cm in height and 17cm in diameter, and has five uprights attached to the crown base. The base is further embellished with three splendid dangling pendants on each side. Comma-shaped jade ornaments and tiny gold disks attached to the surface add to the magnificence of this crown. (National Treasure 191, National Museum of Korea)