Gold Cap

Silla crown caps were shaped like peaked hats, with strings attached to each side that were tied under the chin to hold the cap in place. The front part of the crown cap was adorned with a large ornament shaped like the wings of a bird or butterfly. This particular crown cap, which came from Geumgwanchong Tomb in Gyeongju, was made by piecing together several sheets of gold cut with various openwork patterns. The front part has a slot where the winged ornament could be inserted into the crown cap, and the bottom has a gentle oval shape to be fitted atop the wearer’s head. Of the openwork gold sheets, the piece with heart‐shaped motifs that forms the crown of the cap is of particular interest. This type of pattern was extremely popular in the Baekje Kingdom, especially during the 6th century CE, and it has also been seen in other Silla artifacts, including the charms of the silver girdle from Cheonmachong Tomb. This crown cap is now regarded as the representative examples of Silla crown caps.