Note 10 — LOUIS XIV. PERIOD

106Metal furniture, however, was known to the ancients. To quote a single example, in the palace of King Ahasuerus, “the beds were of gold and silver upon a pavement of red and blue and white and black marble.” The Assyrian furniture was of gold, silver, and bronze, and splendid furniture of gold, silver, and bronze, likewise adorned the Egyptian and Roman palaces and villas. The Romans d’aventure of the Middle Ages contain descriptions of such rich furniture, inspired by Oriental luxury.