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

myrmepropagandist

I'm watching a video about "the crown of St Wenceslas" which is from 1346 in Prague. All these comments and the guy in the video keeps saying how 'beautiful' it is and I'm just not seeing it? Ugliest thing I've ever seen in my life.

I guess it's "beautiful" that it's from 1346 and so well preserved. And naturally it's not made for the "modern eye". But... good lord. It's like someone broke a stain glass window and cleaned it up with tape.

Am I being unfair?

Rev Nathan Ⓥ↔️🇺🇦🇨🇦🇵🇸🇬🇱

@futurebird it’s pretty gaudy

John K

@futurebird
I'd wear it.

myrmepropagandist

@revndm

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."

? Offline

@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?

.

@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?

? Offline

@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.

? Offline

@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?

.

@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. )

Chebucto Regional Softball Club

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