Gold Cap

The inner mould of this gold cap was forged from organic matter and then covered with gold plate in the shape of a cone. Today, only the gold plate remains intact. A number of thin gold plates were connected to decorate the cone, with an opening across the frontal face, to be covered by a pentagonal plate where other decorations were affixed. Different openwork patterns and designs were carved into the gold plates to let the inner organic mould show through. This piece is one of two excavated from Geumgwanchong (Gold Crown Tomb) in Gyeongju that are representative of cone-shaped caps fully decorated with gold.