Italian Artist Sold 18-Karat Gold Toilet at an Auction for P700 Million
GOLD TOILET – A fully functional toilet made of 18-karat gold was sold at an auction for a staggering P700 million in the United States.
The unusual piece of art was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, known for his bold and often provocative works, including the artwork that involved taping a banana to a wall.
The golden toilet was offered at a Sotheby’s auction in New York, where it immediately caught global attention not only for its craftsmanship but also for its striking message.
The auction began with a starting bid of about $10 million. Weighing an impressive 101 kilograms and made from 18-karat gold, the toilet is not just an art display but a fully functioning fixture.
Cattelan titled the artwork America, a name that symbolizes wealth, extravagance, and the many social and economic contrasts that exist in society. Through the piece, he aimed to spark conversation about privilege, inequality, and the idea that luxury can sometimes be taken to playful extremes.
The toilet was originally owned by a private collector and is one of only two pieces ever made by Cattelan in 2016. The other version became well-known when it was displayed at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, where visitors were even allowed to use it briefly.
At the time, the museum humorously offered it as a loan to then U.S. President Donald Trump, adding another layer to the artwork’s satirical tone.
However, the second golden toilet later disappeared under dramatic circumstances when it was stolen while exhibited at Blenheim Palace in England. It has never been recovered, adding to the artwork’s controversial legacy.
The successful auction once again proved that art could go far beyond traditional forms and that creativity, combined with a thought-provoking message, can draw interest from collectors and the public alike.
In a similar post, a banana duct-taped to wall sold for P350m at Sotheby’s auction in New York
The social media users expressed their reactions to the post:
