16th century French queen's pin found in toilet
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
It may be the Renaissance equivalent of a royal flush.
A hairpin belonging to 16th century French Queen Catherine de Medici has been discovered at a royal residence outside Paris. What has conservators scratching their heads is exactly where it was found: down a communal toilet.
Officials said it's the first time in modern history that a possession of the Renaissance royal has been found at Fontainebleau Palace.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Though the queen was renowned across Europe for her lavish jewelry, much of her collection has been lost, sold or stolen over the centuries.
The rare 9 centimeter- (3.5 inch-) pin was identified easily because it bore interlocking C's — for "Catherine."
After the age-old soil was cleaned off, Fontainebleau Palace's conservator Vincent Droguet also noted a finish of white and green, known to be Catherine's colors.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Less easy for the experts, however, was to explain why the personal possession of a queen known for luxury would end up in a Renaissance-era communal toilet — as opposed to her royal one.
The artifact was found by accident as archeologists dug around the toilet to prepare the surrounding area for restoration.
Droguet called the find a "mystery."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
"But what would Catherine de Medici be doing there? Maybe it was a lady-in-waiting who took it. Perhaps it was stolen, and just fell in."
_____
Thomas Adamson can be followed at http://Twitter.com/ThomasAdamsonAP