I'm watching a video about "the crown of St Wenceslas" which is from 1346 in Prague.

John K

myrmepropagandist

If I had to write about it I'd say something like "It clearly communicates the wealth of the king, and his power to wear so many valuable materials without anyone snatching it off his head to make something nicer out of all that gold. A desire that must have been intense for those viewing it."

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@futurebird It looks incredibly gaudy to me, like someone glued a bunch of gems all over a Burger King crown.

myrmepropagandist

@spaceharper

I am assuming this is what the burger king crown was based on?

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@futurebird Egads. No, I think you're being generous. The artisan's vision for that thing is not something I understand at all.

myrmepropagandist

@fembot

There are many things much older that still impress me today. Something about the polished but uncut gems and the flatness of the gold just feels ... low effort?

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@futurebird I think you're being *too* fair. It's hideous. Szent István's crown in Hungary is even older, yet is refined and tasteful.

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@futurebird

Is that a hinge in the lower slightly right?

And are those pearls supposed to rattle?

Other than which, chances are it was intended to be seen at a distance, not photographed and put on the Net for close-ups. And maybe intended to reflect torchlight or oil-wick light in a way which lesser mortals didn't.

Steve Leach

@futurebird In fairness, can anyone show an example of a crown that *isn't* tacky?

I mean... that's kinda the defining feature of a crown?

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@futurebird Right, it's a visual jumble that may have been the height of avant-garde minimalism in 1346 or whatever, but it's giving a slapdash vibe like bad fast-fashion.

myrmepropagandist

@stevenaleach

This one's not too bad. I mean if you MUST wear a gold hat.

myrmepropagandist

@electropict

I mean to be fair no one knows what the king looks like exactly, so you really did need to have a distinctive hat that screams "KING ITS ME" so... job done I guess?

myrmepropagandist

A few people have suggested it was meant to be "seen from a distance" and "in candle and torchlight for reflections"

And that's an OK theory... but if someone said that about my face I would not think it was a compliment.

Glitzersachen

@snork303 @futurebird

I'd sell it.

myrmepropagandist

@glitzersachen @snork303

(looks around nervously for history heads...whispering)

I'd make it into 900,000 heart stints and some nice tooth fillings.

4sphere

@vivtek @futurebird

I agree it looks better.

Also, it bothers me way more than it should that the cross is crooked

myrmepropagandist

@4sphere @vivtek

Maybe it's like a propeller?

(I'm so glad I didn't live in a time or place where I had to take kings seriously. I couldn't have coped. )

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@futurebird Maybe it's not quite so ugly, but this is the crown of the Holy Roman Emperors in Vienna. It looks like something a bunch of elementary school kids made with macaroni and glitter glue.

Alec Story

@futurebird one of the joys of the past is realizing that aesthetics are not objective. This crown is beautiful because it's got so many stones on it. It's so big! Look at how shiny it is. More is more.

Yeah this isn't our aesthetics, but for this guy it ruled. Heck he made the walls of the chapel he built to house his Pokemon collection, I mean, his relic collection look like gems in gold.

Lazarou Monkey Terror 🚀💙🌈

@futurebird it looks like it's from the 1950s, and worn by a 'space king' in a Monsterdon film.

Chebucto Regional Softball Club

I'm watching a video about "the crown of St Wenceslas" which is from 1346 in Prague.