• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.26
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• pp.83-182
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• 2021

This study summarized the results of the conservation treatment and investigation on the production method of the golden crown (Treasure No. 339) excavated from Tomb No. 129 (also known as Seobongchong Tomb) in Noseo-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. The golden crown from Seobongchong Tomb was discovered during the excavations conducted by the Museum of the Government-General of Korea in 1926 during the Japanese colonial era. It is currently in the collection of the National Museum of Korea. A total of six Silla golden crowns have survived in Korea, among which the crown from Seobongchong Tomb is the only example with a dome-shaped hemispherical decoration attached with a bird ornament while otherwise showing the typical features of Silla crowns. The crown had been repaired following its excavation using metallic materials and adhesives, but due to the partial deformation and damage brought about by the repair materials, it required further conservation treatment. This article describes in detail the overall process of the conservation treatment and the restoration of the original form of the golden crown from Seobongchong Tomb, particularly the method of reinforcing the joints to secure the stability of the crown. It presents the characteristics of the crown's production as revealed in the investigation during the conservation treatment, and further analyzes the relationship of this crown from Seobongchong Tomb with other Silla crowns through a comparison of their production techniques. The investigation revealed that the crown was primarily decorated with golden sequins at the time of its production. At a later point some of the sequins in the upright ornament were replaced with comma-shaped jade beads and additional comma-shaped jade beads were added to the headband. In order to determine if such modifications to the decoration had occurred with other Silla crowns, the decoration of the six extant Silla golden crowns were investigated. The crown from Cheonmachong Tomb features traces of this same modification to the decoration and possesses other similarities with the crown from Seobongchong Tomb.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.17
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• pp.17-42
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• 2016

A scientific analysis was performed on the gold belt with eight dangling ornaments discovered in the large Silla period Seobongchong Tomb. The object's gold sheets, nails, curved ornaments and gold wire were analyzed separately. Results show that all the components are gold-silver alloy, each varying in overall alloy composition. Gold sheets of two different gold contents are used for the belt, 17-18K gold and 19-20K gold, this seemingly by design. Nails are 20K gold, while the curved ornaments and gold wire of the belt are mostly 18K gold. Gold sheets for the dangling ornaments are mainly of 17-19K gold. Connecting rings used in the dangling ornaments are 17-19K gold, nails 17-20K gold and the curved ornaments and wire 19K gold.

• Conservation Science in Museum
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• v.16
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• pp.46-55
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• 2015

This study examines the ratio of alloy components of six gold crowns discovered in six Silla tombs; Gyo-dong, the north tomb of Hwangnamdaechong, Geumgwanchong, Cheonmachong, Geumnyeongchong and Seobongchong. Concretely, the study looks at whether and how crowns from these various tombs differ in terms of the ratio of alloy components. The analysis of the six Silla crowns found that all of them were made of gold and silver alloy. When comparing the ratio of alloy components in crowns and type of crowns, the Gyo-dong crown which is the oldest of them showed the highest content of gold. Crowns from Hwangnamdaechong and Geumgwanchong in the middle to late 5th century, showed a similar content of gold. Gold content of crowns from the late 5th century to early 6th century tombs decreased in order Cheonmachong, Geumnyeongchong and Seobongchong, thus it confirmed that the older the tomb, the higher its gold content.