French king Louis XIV kicked off a trend among royal families across Europe when he ordered artisans to build huge pieces of furniture in solid silver that he displayed ostentatiously at the Chateau de Versailles between 1682 and 1689. The silver splendour only lasted a seven years as Sun King melted the silver down to pay for his war across Europe. Other royal families though kept their treasures. Curators at the Chateau de Versailles have gathered together many of these pieces in an exceptional exhibition that opens on Wednesday and which evokes the palace's former glory. One third of the objects are on loan from the Danish royal family. Other treasures came from Austria, Britain, Germany, Russia and Spain. Images and soundbites of the exhibition.
