Maurizio Cattelan's Iconic Golden Toilet Set to Return to Market at Sotheby's in November
For over a decade since its infamous debut at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Maurizio Cattelan's 18-karat gold toilet, titled "America," has been etched into the public consciousness as one of the most provocative and irreverent works of art of our time. The sculpture, which was first unveiled in 2016, captured the imagination of over 100,000 visitors who flocked to the museum to take a seat - literally.
The toilet's notoriety only intensified when it was famously stolen from Blenheim Palace, an UNESCO World Heritage site, in a daring overnight heist. The theft, which is believed to have netted Cattelan £4.8 million, sent shockwaves through the art world and cemented the work's status as a cultural phenomenon.
Now, Sotheby's has announced that "America" will return to market at its upcoming auction house in November, with an estimated starting bid of $10 million based on the artwork's value as a solid gold object. The piece is expected to be the only one ever created, following the destruction of the original toilet during the heist.
Sotheby's Head of Contemporary Art, David Galperin, describes "America" as Cattelan's "tour de force," a work that challenges our understanding of what constitutes art and confronts the power structures that govern the art market. By rendering an ordinary object - a toilet - in solid gold and making it fully functional, Cattelan "takes Duchamp's radical gesture to new heights," Galperin notes.
Throughout his career, Cattelan has consistently pushed the boundaries of artistic convention, challenging how value is constructed and what defines a work of art. His oeuvre is characterized by its conceptual acuity, biting humor, and unapologetic disruption of the status quo.
The return of "America" to market comes at a time when global uncertainty is driving up demand for gold prices, making Cattelan's toilet an even more attractive investment opportunity. As one art expert noted, the work's value lies not only in its intrinsic worth but also in its brand recognition and cultural cache.
With its unparalleled provenance and continued relevance to contemporary art discourse, "America" is poised to dominate headlines once again this November at Sotheby's auctions. Whether it fetches a record-breaking price or not, Cattelan's toilet remains an unforgettable work of art that will continue to spark conversations about the nature of creativity, value, and our place in the art world.
For over a decade since its infamous debut at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Maurizio Cattelan's 18-karat gold toilet, titled "America," has been etched into the public consciousness as one of the most provocative and irreverent works of art of our time. The sculpture, which was first unveiled in 2016, captured the imagination of over 100,000 visitors who flocked to the museum to take a seat - literally.
The toilet's notoriety only intensified when it was famously stolen from Blenheim Palace, an UNESCO World Heritage site, in a daring overnight heist. The theft, which is believed to have netted Cattelan £4.8 million, sent shockwaves through the art world and cemented the work's status as a cultural phenomenon.
Now, Sotheby's has announced that "America" will return to market at its upcoming auction house in November, with an estimated starting bid of $10 million based on the artwork's value as a solid gold object. The piece is expected to be the only one ever created, following the destruction of the original toilet during the heist.
Sotheby's Head of Contemporary Art, David Galperin, describes "America" as Cattelan's "tour de force," a work that challenges our understanding of what constitutes art and confronts the power structures that govern the art market. By rendering an ordinary object - a toilet - in solid gold and making it fully functional, Cattelan "takes Duchamp's radical gesture to new heights," Galperin notes.
Throughout his career, Cattelan has consistently pushed the boundaries of artistic convention, challenging how value is constructed and what defines a work of art. His oeuvre is characterized by its conceptual acuity, biting humor, and unapologetic disruption of the status quo.
The return of "America" to market comes at a time when global uncertainty is driving up demand for gold prices, making Cattelan's toilet an even more attractive investment opportunity. As one art expert noted, the work's value lies not only in its intrinsic worth but also in its brand recognition and cultural cache.
With its unparalleled provenance and continued relevance to contemporary art discourse, "America" is poised to dominate headlines once again this November at Sotheby's auctions. Whether it fetches a record-breaking price or not, Cattelan's toilet remains an unforgettable work of art that will continue to spark conversations about the nature of creativity, value, and our place in the art world.
! I mean, I'm all for people making bank off their art, but £4.8 million for a toilet? That's just wild talk 
But at the same time, Cattelan did create something pretty brilliant with that piece - it's definitely sparked a conversation about what we consider art and how value is assigned to it.
. But hey, if you can make that much money off a toilet, more power to the artist, right? 
And with gold prices on the rise, I guess Cattelan's got a good shot at getting that record-breaking price tag 
I mean, it's just a fancy toilet... but at the same time, I get why people are obsessed with it - it's like, genius or something 
. Is it art? Is it just a prank? I'm not really sure anymore 
. But one thing's for sure, Cattelan's a genius at making people talk about his stuff 
. And who knows, maybe the gold toilet is actually a solid investment opportunity... or maybe it'll be a total flop 
. Either way, I'm just here for the drama and the weird art vibes 
.
i've been following maurusio cattelan since he first showed his stuff at the venice biennale and his toilet is just too iconic lol its like who would steal a toilet? but at the same time its genius on how he challenged art norms with it. and now that its coming back to market idk if im ready to cough up 10 million for it tho 
thinkin its just gonna be a fancy pooing device or somethin 
u mean 10 million dolla? thats crazy! i get that its art but cant we just appreciate it from afar? and whats with all the fuss about it being stolen? 
. It's crazy to think that this little toilet has been making waves in the art world since 2016. I wonder if they'll even let people sit on it at Sotheby's auction house...
I mean who wouldn't want to buy a solid gold toilet that's basically a piece of art history? 
The fact that it was stolen from Blenheim Palace is just wild, I can only imagine the security measures they had in place 
. I mean, who else could make a public restroom an art piece? 
! Can't wait to see it up for grabs in November - $10 million seems like a steal considering its value as a solid gold toilet 
. #GoldenToiletMania #ArtRevolution #CattelanSquad 