Hat-top ornament, from Nanjing, c. 1420-21, gold, decorated with gemstones. Excavated from the tomb of Zhu Zhanji, Prince Zhuang of Liang, and of Lady Wei at Zhongxiang, Hubei province. © Hubei Provincial Museum 湖北省博物馆

Hat-top ornament, Ming dynasty, 7.5-high, bottom diameter 4.8cm. Lotus chassis is made of gold jewels and sapphire toppings composed of 10 existing gem. Top seat "tethered wire insert" a nearly 200-carat Marquise colorless sapphires, is the greatest archaeological discovery of sapphire. © Hubei Provincial Museum 湖北省博物馆

Yellow gold hat-top ornament with sapphire, Ming dynasty, 4.8-high, bottom diameter 5.2cm Crowns made of gold and jewels cover lotus pedestal yellow sapphire toppings composition of the deposit gems 7. © Hubei Provincial Museum 湖北省博物馆

White jade hollow cloud dragon hat-top ornament, Ming dynasty. Through 3.9, bottom diameter 5.1cm. © Hubei Provincial Museum 湖北省博物馆

Jin Leisi hat-top ornament, Ming dynasty. High 3.4, bottom diameter 5cm. Golden lotus-shaped base cover using the top-down "process filaments" hollow into five, a total of 18 inlaid with precious stones. © Hubei Provincial Museum 湖北省博物馆

Gold and gem-encrusted hairpins. Nanjing or Beijing, c. 1403-51. Excavated from the tomb of Zhu Zhanji, Prince Zhuang of Liang, and of Lady Wei at Zhongxiang, Hubei province. © Hubei Provincial Museum 湖北省博物馆

Gold and gem-encrusted hairpins. Nanjing or Beijing, c. 1403-51. Excavated from the tomb of Zhu Zhanji, Prince Zhuang of Liang, and of Lady Wei at Zhongxiang, Hubei province. © Hubei Provincial Museum 湖北省博物馆

Gold hairpin with the flame design. Excavated from the tomb of Lady Wei at Zhongxiang, Hubei province. The pin itself is 12.3 centimeters (4.8 inches) long and the weight of the artifact is 115.4 grams (about 4 ounces). Photo © Chinese Cultural Relics.

A pair of gold bracelets found in the tomb of Lady Wei at Zhongxiang, Hubei province. Both of them are about 7 centimeters (2.8 inches) in diameter. The bracelets have flower designs and the gemstones are a mix of sapphires, rubies and turquoise. Photo © Chinese Cultural Relics.

Gold hairpin is decorated with a mix of sapphires and rubies found in the tomb of Lady Wei at Zhongxiang, Hubei province. The hairpin is 14.2 centimeters (5.6 inches) in width and its weight is 148.7 grams (more than 5 ounces). Photo © Chinese Cultural Relics.

A fragrance box with gold chain found in the tomb of Lady Wei at Zhongxiang, Hubei province. It is decorated with lotus petal decorations and seven characters written in Sanskrit. The remaining gems include four sapphires, five rubies and one turquoise. Photo © Chinese Cultural Relics.

A gold hairpin in the shape of a chrysanthemum (flowering plant) found in the tomb of Lady Wei at Zhongxiang, Hubei province. It has a large ruby at center and a mix of smaller sapphires and rubies on its petals. The diameter at the largest point is 11.7 centimeters (4.6 inches). The total weight of the artifact is 218.2 grams (more than 7.5 ounces). Photo © Chinese Cultural Relics.

Two gold hairpins with branches and tendril patterns found in the tomb of Lady Wei at Zhongxiang, Hubei province. The hairpin at left has three sapphires, three rubies, one crystal and one turquoise. The one at right has two sapphires, four rubies and one cat’s eye stone. Photo © Chinese Cultural Relics.

A gold hairpin with a seven petal lotus design found in the tomb of Lady Wei at Zhongxiang, Hubei province. A large ruby gemstone is still preserved at center. Photo © Chinese Cultural Relics.