국립중앙박물관 NATIONAL MUSEUM OF KOREA

Highlights
Gold Necklace
  • Nationality/Period

    Three Kingdoms Period

  • Provenance

    Gyeongju-si

  • Materials

    Metal - Gold

  • Category

    clothes - Accessories - Body Accessories - Necklace

  • Dimensions

    L. 3.3cm

  • Designation

    Treasure 456

  • Accession Number

    Sinsu 1287

Starting in the early 6th century CE, Silla necklaces, crowns, and earrings became very heavily decorated, as exemplified by this gorgeous gold necklace, which is made of round “beads” formed by connecting several of the round spangles traditionally used in decorating the thick central ring of Silla earrings. These spangle beads are decorated with incised patterns and adorned with several more heart-shaped spangles. The main pendant of the necklace is a comma-shaped jade piece. This necklace was found in a burial tomb in Noseo-dong, Gyeongju. Several large tombs have been found clustered in the area of Noseo-dong and Nodong-dong, most of which date back to the 5th and early 6th century CE. Among these tombs, the largest ones, including the one where this necklace was found, are thought to have been the burials of the most elite members of Silla society, including the Silla kings and royal family.