Gold Toilet, Stolen from Britain’s Blenheim Palace

A group of thieves has stolen an 18-carat gold toilet from an art exhibition at Britain’s Blenheim Palace. The fully functioning piece was designed by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and was named, “America”. It was also displayed at New York’s Guggenheim museum once and was offered on loan to the US President Donald Trump. 

Meanwhile, a 66-year-old man has been arrested for the theft at the 18th-century stately home in Oxfordshire, where the famous works of the Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan was opened on Thursday. Thames Valley police have informed, “The offenders broke into the palace overnight and left the scene at about 4.50am. No-one was injured during the burglary”. 

Inspector Jess Milne of the Detective Department said, “The piece of art that has been stolen is a high-value toilet made of gold that was on display at the palace. As the toilet being plumbed into the building, it has caused significant damage including flooding”. 

Jess also added, “We believe a group of offenders are behind it, which used at least 2 vehicles during the offence. The artwork has so far not been recovered but we are conducting a thorough investigation to find it out and bring those responsible, to justice”.

The artist Maurizio Cattelan, who made the solid gold toilet reportedly worth about £4.8m has said, “Who is so stupid to steal a toilet? America is 1% for the 99% and I hope it still is. I want to be positive about the theft and believe the robbery is a kind of Robin Hood inspired action.” 

58-year-old Maurizio Cattelan has also attended a reception party at the 18th-century Oxfordshire estate last Friday, which also marked his first solo exhibition in the UK in two decades. 

The toilet sculpture was the centerpiece of his new show. But due to the theft, many art lovers were debarred of the opportunity to see the masterpiece closely and the museum was closed to the public on Saturday and Sunday.

Cattelan referred to the gold toilet has last year said, “Whatever you eat, a two-hundred-dollar lunch or a two-dollar hot dog, the results are the same, toilet-wise.”

As per some estimate the golden toilet is worth an estimated £1m, but Blenheim Palace’s chief executive, Dominic Hare, said it has been valued at about $6m (£4.8m).

Last year the gold toilet has hit the headlines when it was offered to the US president, Donald Trump by the chief curator of the Guggenheim in New York for his home use and offered to arrange the payment in the loan.

The golden toilet was also proved to be very popular at the Fifth Avenue museum and had been described by critics as a pointed satire against the excesses of wealth, which only a few people have in abundance, while others die for want of food.

Blenheim Palace, where the exhibition was arranged is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The palace is home to the 12th Duke of Marlborough and his family and was also the birthplace of British leader and Prime Minister Winston Churchill.