Silver Diadem Ornament from the North Mound of Hwangnamdaechong Tomb

Three silver diadem ornaments were excavated from the North Mound of Hwangnamdaechong Tomb: one bird-wing-shaped ornament and two butterfly-shaped ornaments. The bird-wing-shaped ornament was found singly to the north of the burial-goods storage area. It is designed to depict a bird in full flight with its wings spread wide, and was meant to be inserted into the front of a cap. The two wings and the central stem were each cut from separate silver sheets and joined together; the wings are identical in shape on both sides, though they have corroded and come away. The upper parts of the wings and stem were fastened together with small silver rivets, and, except for the stem at the centre of the fan-shaped tail section, the edges are bordered by a double row of punched dot decoration. The upper part of the stem is trapezoidal and the lower part fan-shaped; a vertical ridge, formed by slightly folding the centre line of the fan shape, is clearly visible, and to either side of this ridge a pair of raised, eye-like motifs has been punched out symmetrically, giving the appearance of human eyes. On the upper back of the right side of the fan-shaped stem the character "夫" is incised, on the upper back of the left side an "X" mark, and on the back of the right wing the character "百", all cut in with a sharp tool. (Height 36 cm, restored wingspan 40 cm.) The two butterfly-shaped ornaments were found overlapping one another to the southwest of the storage area. Close in form to a butterfly, each was cut from a single sheet of silver. Their wings are shorter and rise more sharply than those of the bird-wing type, and the centre line is folded inward to form a vertical ridge. To either side of this ridge, comma-shaped (gogok) eye motifs project out symmetrically, giving the piece a fierce appearance. Except for the central stem, the edges are bordered by a double row of punched dot decoration. The tip of the right wing is corroded, with corrosion also scattered elsewhere. Of the second ornament, only the stem and part of the body survive, both wings having corroded away; it was made by almost the same method as the first, but judging from the small surviving portion of the wing, it appears to have risen even more sharply. (Height 22 cm, maximum restored width across the two ends 26 cm.)

AI Translation

Where it is

Region

Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk

Designation

Treasure · 보물