#23: Ming Dynasty Emperor’s Winged Crown (China)
The mianguan was a ceremonial crown worn by Ming emperors during ancestral rites and state rituals. It featured two stiff wing-like flaps and rows of jade beads that hung to obscure the wearer’s face, a sign of humility before heaven. Its design reflected Confucian ideals of order and cosmic harmony. Paintings from the imperial court and tombs still preserve its austere elegance from one of China’s most stable dynasties.
