Gold Crown from Geumnyeongchong Tomb

The Gold Crown from Geumryeongchong Tomb (Gold Bell Tomb) is a typical Silla crown, composed of tree-shaped and antler-shaped uprights rising from the headband. Its most distinctive feature is the absence of curved jades. The side branches of the tree-shaped uprights form four tiers, a characteristic shared with the crown from Cheonmachong Tomb. The edges of the uprights are incised with two rows of small circular motifs, which also decorate the upper and lower borders of the headband. Convex ornaments are carved along the uprights and the band, from which round pendants are suspended on gold wire.
On either side of the headband hang three pendants of varying lengths that enhance the crown’s splendor. The first pendant is a small, thin ring connected by a gold chain to gold bells. The second consists of a fine ring attached to a short chainlike middle ornament and a pen-nib–shaped terminal ornament. The third pendant features a long middle ornament ending in four pen-nib–shaped decorations, one of which is larger than the others. Additional pendants are suspended from these pen-nib ornaments with gold wire.