Crown of the kings of Bavaria (gold, silver, diamonds, imitation blue diamond, rubies, emeralds;  height 23.3 cm, diam. 26.5 cm); Marie-Étienne Nitot (jeweller) and Jean-Baptiste Leblond (goldsmith), Paris 1806-07. Residenz Treasury © Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung

On 1 January 1806 Elector Maximilian Joseph IV of Bavaria was proclaimed King Maximilian Joseph I of Bavaria. Royal insignia were immediately commissioned from craftsmen in Paris: a crown, sceptre, sword and belt, imperial orb and seal container for the king, and a crown for the queen. Among the artists at Napoleon's court who worked on the insignia was the leading goldsmith of the day, Martin-Guillaume Biennais..
The insignia were duly delivered to Munich, but political events precluded a coronation ceremony. In fact, no king of Bavaria was ever to wear the crown in public. On occasions such as the accession of a ruler to his throne and his lying in state the insignia were presented on special cushions.