A mirror formerly owned by France's last Queen, Marie Antoinette, has been uncovered in the bathroom of a house in England. 

The item had hung on the wall of the downstairs toilet room for more than 40 years, without the owner knowing of its true background. 

Measuring just 50cm by 40cm, the ornate 18th century mirror, with its distinctive carved wooden frame, is thought to have formed part of a larger collection belonging to the so-called "Queen of Versailles." 

The mirror is expected to fetch more than $13,000 when it is auctioned in the UK city of Bristol on November 13.

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After Marie Antoinette's death, the mirror was handed on to Napoleon's wife, the Empress Eugenie, who was said to have had an obsessive interest in the flamboyant monarch. 

The current owners had only limited knowledge of the item's provenance, despite an engraved plaque on the rear alluding to its royal connections. 

Its authenticity was confirmed by experts when it was cross-checked against a catalogue from an auction that took place in Kent in 1889, which included several items from Napoleon's own household.  

One of the most controversial figures in French history, Marie Antoinette became notorious for her vanity and profligacy in the years running up to the French Revolution, earning herself the nickname "Madame Deficit" for her lavish spending. 

She was put to death at the guillotine in 1793 aged just 37. The mirror came into its current ownership in the 1980s after being handed down through an inheritance. It will now be sold at auction in Bristol next week.

Video editing: Steve Chappell