鳳冠（正面）
The front side of the phoenix crown.
Phoenix Crown (Adorned with Kingfisher Feathers, Pearls, Gemstones, and Gold Dragons)
The phoenix crown adorned with kingfisher feathers, pearls, gemstones and gold dragons was unearthed in 1956 from the Dingling Tomb of the Ming Dynasty in Beijing. It belonged to Empress Xiaojing, wife of Emperor Wanli.
Phoenix crown refers to the ceremonial headgear worn by the empress when she accepted canonization, worshipped her ancestors, and participated in court meetings. This one is made of lacquered fine bamboo wires adorned with kingfisher feathers in the shape of auspicious clouds.
This technique is known as Diancui. The process is very complex: Craftsmen need to first weave a specially designed metal framework, then form the outlines of decorative patterns with metal wires, and finally paste kingfisher feathers onto the recesses between the lines.
These cloud-shaped ornaments feature fine hairs and a silky luster. The phoenix crown is inlaid with more than 100 rubies and sapphires as well as over 5,000 pearls. Everything on top of the crown is evenly distributed.
Three gold dragons were crafted with gold wires, of which the left and right hold jewels and tassels in their mouths. Two lifelike emerald-blue phoenixes were symmetrically arranged in the front part of the crown, which spread their wings as if they were flying.
At the back of the crown is a pair of bobin (headdress worn by women in ancient China to show their social status), which are inlaid with pearls and gemstones and stretch toward two sides like an unfolding fan. The crown brim is inset with flowers made of rubies, sapphires, and tiny pearls.
Combining the beauty of living beings and decorative motifs, the phoenix crown embodies the superb skills of Chinese craftsmen.
鳳冠（背面）
The rear side of the phoenix crown.
鳳冠（點翠嵌珍珠寶石金龍鳳冠）
點翠嵌珍珠寶石金龍鳳冠，1956年出土于北京明定陵，鳳冠主人是萬歷皇帝的孝靖皇后。
鳳冠是皇后在接受冊封、祭祀祖先、參加朝會時所佩戴的冠冕。此鳳冠以涂漆細竹絲編制，在此基礎上，通體如意云片皆使用翠鳥羽毛裝飾，稱為點翠工藝。點翠工藝十分復雜，需要先以金屬制成特定的架子，再用金屬線勾勒出紋樣輪廓，然后在線條間的凹陷處粘貼翠鳥羽毛。
這些如意云片，毛絲細密，有絲絹光澤。鳳冠共鑲嵌紅藍寶石一百多顆，珍珠五千余粒。冠頂部等距離排列著金絲編制的金龍三條，其中左右兩條口銜珠寶流蘇。冠前部有兩只對稱的翠藍色鳳凰，鳳凰展翅呈飛翔狀，栩栩如生。冠后部有一對“博鬢”（古代婦女頭飾，也用于展示身份地位），上鑲珍珠、寶石，以扇形向左右分開。冠口一周鑲嵌花朵，由紅藍寶石及小米珠組成。
鳳冠將生物之靈與裝飾之美結合，體現了中國匠人高超的手工藝技能。
