Cattelan's gold toilet stolen in England? Perhaps it has already been melted down

It may have already been melted down that Maurizio Cattelan ’s (Padua, 1960) golden toilet was stolen in September in England: thieves removed it from the toilets of Blenheim Palace, the Oxfordshire residence where Victory is not an option, a major solo exhibition by the Venetian artist, is running until Oct. 27. As was typical of the work, it was a fully functioning toilet that visitors could use, with prior reservation and for a limited time (3 minutes).

The suspicion that it was melted down in order to recover the precious material (18-carat gold) is concrete, but the investigation by British investigators nevertheless continues: last week three people (a 35-year-old man, a 34-year-old man, and a 36-year-old woman) suspected of having played roles in the theft were arrested by British police. They have since been released but are still under investigation. Meanwhile, the search for the work, valued at $6 million, continues: a spokesperson for Fine Art Specie Adjusters Ltd. which operates in the artwork-related loss adjusting business (i.e., handles and settles claims), has let it be known that the Blenheim Palace insurance company is offering a $130,000 reward for anyone who can secure information that could lead to the rescue of America (that’s the name of Cattelan’s golden toilet).

Pictured is Cattelan’s work displayed at Blenheim Palace before its removal.

Cattelan's gold toilet stolen in England? Perhaps it has already been melted down

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