18 carat, an estimated value of one million euros: A loo of gold has been stolen from the British Blenheim Palace. That is what the police said. The toilet is an installation by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.
According to the police, a 66-year-old man was arrested. The precious toilet was still missing. At the scene, therefore, a "considerable damage and a flood".
The Blenheim Palace shared the incident via the short message service Twitter: "The artwork of Maurizio Cattelan was stolen early in the morning." It was very regrettable that such a valuable object was stolen.
** OFFICIAL STATEMENT **
Following the Thames Valley Police Statement we can confirm 'America', the piece by Maurizio Cattelan has been stolen in the early hours of this morning.
We are saddened by this extraordinary event, but so relieved no-one was hurt.
It has therefore been a great shame on item so precious, but we still have so many fascinating treasures in the Palace and the remaining items of the exhibition to share.
- Blenheim Palace (@BlenheimPalace) September 14, 2019The loo is titled "America". The installation is considered a malicious commentary on the affluent society and the luxury goods of the super-rich.
In the Blenheim Palace, the toilet was shown as part of an exhibition. The magnificent castle near Oxford is the birthplace of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The golden loo could even be used by visitors - for a maximum of three minutes to avoid snakes.
Joana Kruse / imago
In the Blenheim Palace near Oxford the golden toilet was on display
Previously, the installation was a public toilet for one year at the Guggenheim Museum in New York. When Donald Trump wanted to rent a painting by Vincent van Gogh for his private rooms in the White House in 2018, the Guggenheim refused - and instead offered him the golden loo.
