This rare early example of the Thai goldsmith's art was probably made for a princess by court craftsmen and dates to the fifteenth century, when Ayudhya was the capital of the country. The art of jewelry-making in Thailand reached great sophistication during this period, as demonstrated by this crown with its intricate design inlaid with rubies and pearls. The prestige of gold among the Thai ruling class was such that its usage and ornamentation were strictly prescribed by sumptuary regulations, and gold jewelry was often buried with its wearer in the tombs of members of the royal family. Felice Fischer, from Philadelphia Museum of Art: Handbook of the Collections (1995), p. 63.