A gold toilet, named “America” and created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, was auctioned for $12.1 million (£9.3 million) and purchased by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! This particular artwork is made from over 15 stone and 13 pounds (101.2 kg) of solid 18-carat gold and is a fully functional toilet.
The original version of “America” was installed in a public restroom at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City in 2016. Its notoriety increased after it was stolen from Blenheim Palace in 2019, leading to widespread media coverage. Following the theft, a second version was revealed and auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York City, where it received only one bid. The starting bid was set based on the current value of its weight in gold, approximately $10 million (£7.6 million).
Although the auction house initially refrained from disclosing the buyer’s identity, Ripley’s later confirmed they were the purchasers via an Instagram post. The entertainment company operates attractions globally, including museums featuring unusual exhibits. Following the acquisition, Ripley’s expressed interest in potentially allowing visitors to use the artwork but noted that careful planning would be required.
This auction established the artwork as the second highest priced piece by Cattelan, with his kneeling Hitler sculpture previously fetching $17.2 million (£11.9 million) in 2016. It is estimated that more than 100,000 individuals used the original toilet while it was housed at the Guggenheim before its relocation to Blenheim Palace, where it was stolen by a group of thieves.
The theft and subsequent trial received international attention. Notably, the auction coincided with the sale of a Gustav Klimt portrait for $236.4 million (£179 million), which set a record as the second most expensive artwork sold at auction.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjd07dprln9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss