Hi Folks,
In an earlier article, I mentioned that whilst I like art, I don’t really understand it. ( See The Art Series ). Some so called Art, especially of the more contemporary style, is, in my opinion, total rubbish. A giant pile of bricks? A sawn in half shark?? I mean, is that really art? But even I was shocked to hear about the theft of a valuable piece of contemporary Art from Blenheim Palace this week. In fact its a real Loo-Dunnit. Read on and see what I mean.
Maurizio Cattelan
In 2016, the Solomon R Guggenheim museum in New York commissioned a piece of art by the Italian Artist Maurizio Cattelan. The piece is called ‘America’. Classed as a sculpture, it is an example of satirical participatory art. Participatory in that its designed to allow the public to engage and interact with it. Satirical in that it takes the piss, to use the vernacular. Well, this piece certainly does that in a very fundamental way, for the sculpture is a fully functioning toilet, made from 18 Karat solid gold.
‘America’
The toilet was designed to look like the Guggenheim museum’s other toilets and was installed in a regular bathroom for visitors to the museum to use. Its said that over 100,000 people waited in line to use the loo. That’s a big queue, especially if you were desperate. On reflection, I suspect they weren’t all waiting at the same time. The value of the gold its made from is estimated at over $1,000,000. Hence, its not surprising that the ‘throne’ was protected by a security guard stationed outside the bathroom. I wonder if he also handed out soap and hand towels too?
Allegedly, the museum has linked the golden toilet to the career of Donald Trump. I can see why. Trump is awfully fond of all things gilded and bling’y. Plus it kind of matches his hair. However, its not known what he said when it was offered on loan to the White House. In fairness, they had asked if they could borrow a priceless Van Gogh painting; ‘Landscape with Snow‘, but the museum curator offered them ‘America‘ instead. Wonder if she is a Democrat.
So far, so what? Well, here’s where it gets interesting. It seems the loo was loaned to Blenheim Palace in the UK as part of a Cattelan exhibition and this is where it all went down the toilet really.
Blenheim Palace
Located in Oxfordshire, Blenheim Palace is a very beautiful building and a World Heritage site. Its a huge country house, much bigger than Downton Abbey (or Highclere Castle as it really is, but everyone knows it as Downton Abbey, don’t they, thanks to the tv series. ) Blenheim is the ancestral home of the Dukes of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Stupidly expensive to tun, rather like the fictional Downton Abbey and possibly the inspiration for the story line, the palace was saved from ruin by funds obtained from an American Railroad Heiress upon her marriage to the 9th Duke of Marlborough at the end of the 19th century.
These days, it is open to the public for a very reasonable fee, (about 25 quid, since you ask) and is a pleasant way to spend a few hours. Wander around the gardens, peer into the palace, generally get a taste of how the other half live. It also hosts contemporary art exhibitions, which brings us back to Maurizio Cattelan and his golden throne.
The Cattelan Exhibition
As part of the Cattelan exhibition, ‘America’ was plumbed into a WC, supposedly one used by Sir Winston himself. In the spirit of the original design intent, visitors were encouraged to book a 3 minute window to spend a penny and use the loo. Not really sure I would fancy that. Don’t know if its a British thing, a generational thing or a personal thing, but I don’t like using public loos. Even sold gold ones, in opulent palaces. If humanly possible, I would far rather wait until I got home and the privacy of my own familiar, if less shiny, loo.
But I digress. Unfortunately, Lord Edward Spencer-Churchill, the brother of the current and 12th Duke of Marlborough Charles James Spencer-Churchill, might have misjudged the security of the sculpture. When asked about it, he responded, ” It’s not going to be the easiest thing to nick. Firstly its plumbed in and secondly a potential thief will have no idea who last used the toilet or what they ate.” An unsavory concept, but I take his point. He might also have added, that being of solid gold, it is extremely heavy and that Blenheim Palace has a sophisticated security system. It would need more than your bog standard thief to tackle it, if you’ll pardon the pun.
The Theft
Sadly, despite his reassurances, it seems sometime in the early hours of 14th September, a person or persons unknown did the unthinkable and stole the golden throne. As it was plumbed in, after it was taken a significant amount of flooding and water damage was caused. America has gone, wreaking devastation in its wake.
As you can imagine this must have been a headline writers dream. My favorite was, ” Golden Toilet Stolen – Police have nothing to go on. ” Love it.
Makes you wonder just how sophisticated the Blenheim security system actually is. Presumably, it must have taken at least 2 if not more people to carry the thing. Then they would need a van or similar to transport it. Unplumbing it must have taken time and with water gushing everywhere, well that’s the sort of thing a trained security guard might be expected to notice. Its an interesting one which as I say is a real loo-dunnit.
Scrap or Art?
Police expectations are that the toilet will never be recovered. It will doubtless have been melted down and made into gold bars shortly after the theft. I only hope they cleaned it first. I guess, selling gold bars will be a lot easier than selling a large, toilet shaped, chunk of metal. Less likely to raise suspicion, you might think.
With a scrap value of $1,000,000 its easy to see why it was stolen. But perhaps the thieves will try to sell it as is. Why? Well, for reasons completely unfathomable to me, as a piece of art, the toilet is worth between $5 to $6 million. Again I have to ask ‘Why?’, backed up by a, ‘Really?’ It is a toilet when all said and done. At the risk of talking crap, (sorry, I can’t resist the puns), why should a toilet be worth 5 or 6 times the value of the material its made from. Especially after what over 100,000 people have done in it. Eeaw! Doesn’t bear thinking about.
The ‘America’ Legend
Apparently, the police have arrested a 66 year old in connection with the theft. Wonder what gave him away? Loo roll stuck to his shoe? Gold flakes on the end of his monkey wrench? Who knows. I kind of hope ‘America‘ isn’t recovered and goes into legend. Like Shergar or Lord Lucan. It will make for a much better story and perhaps one day, they will make a film about it, The Blenheim Job, or should that be Blenheim Jobby. Poor old Winston would have laughed his socks off.
And on that slightly tasteless note, I think I shall stop.
Talk soon,
Graham
Wow! An 18 Karat solid gold toilet? Now this is fit for a King/Queen! I sure hope all those people waiting in line to use it don’t get so blinded that they forget about proper sanitation that’s for sure.
Hmm. Can think of a few better things to splash a million bucks on. Still, if you gave the spondoolies and absolutely no taste, why not. Still don’t see how it’s art however 🤔
That’s got to be the most detailed criminal backstory for a toilet. I hope they do make a movie out of it. I would totally go see it.
But who would star? Get it wrong and that could quite literally see their career toilet 🤪
Great story!! Hilarious.
Life imitating fiction. You couldn’t make it up.
I understand satire but Is it a bit to far to have a toilet made of gold? Seriously!!! this is just a toilet but oh well if you have money why not?
It’s art apparently. Personally, I think it’s pretentious crap. Which is kind of appropriate.
Thank god not only is this very secured but people are not using it to relieve themselves. In reality though I imagine people are intimidated to do any business in a toilet as grand as this.
But it was used. And obviously wasn’t that secure. Bet the seat was cold too.
I support that they make for a much better story and perhaps one day, they should make a film about it, The Blenheim Job, or should that be Blenheim Jobby. Poor old Winston would laughed his socks off to see such. Thanks for this exposure post.
Wish i’d Said that 🙄
I’ve actually seen this story on my Facebook timeline. It’s the kind of weird news story that really adds oomph to the phrase “truth is stranger than fiction”.
Absolutely. You really couldn’t make this stuff up, without stretching the bounds of credibility. I love this stuff, makes a pleasant break from Brexit, Brexit, Boring Brexit.
Same here I love things made of Gold. There are always fascinating to me. 100,000 people waited outside to use one gold toilet. I hope they didn’t have a disaster in their hands. That statistics is huge.
Stick with gold watches, or chains. Easier to carry around than a huge loo.
Wonderful but I think you can also caption this post “America”. Also, linking the toilet to Trump’s career and hair look I kinda weird. Anyway, you’ve gat a wonderful write-up!
Don’t blame me for the link with Trump. That was the Guggenheim, but you have to admit, it really is his style.
Hmmm, how do we caption this kind of theft. I doubt they thieves will sell it as a golden toilet to douse off any kind of suspicion. Msyhe as golden bar suggested by you.
Who wouldn’t want to use a golden toilet bought with such amount of money, So wouldn’t blamed all those lined up to get their selves in there but selling it, is just way low.
Oooh no. Not me. Don’t like public loos, even ones made from 18kt gold.
That was one expensive toilet! Huge loss for the museum.
Whoever stole the toilet sure was lucky. That is some life changing money!
This is largely the museum’s fault. They should have kept the toilet in a more secure area.
A toilet worth one million dollars? I would be scared to even use it haha.
I like the comparison you make of the toilet and Donald Trump. Very hilarious indeed!
You can see why he might not be too impressed by the commparisn😀
Your style of writing is very fun and entertaining. I enjoyed the article and learnt something at the same time. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Your are most welcome and thanks for commenting
This is the most bizarre piece of art I have ever seen. I wish I could see it in real life.
I sure hope the authorities track down the thieves successfully. I’m sure the toilet was a great asset to the museum.
Well it was quite a convenience
I can bet the museum won’t be putting their priced pieces in the toilet again. This was very funny haha!
Glad you liked it. 🤗
Wow, an actual solid gold toilet. Now that’s something I wish I had in my house.
Now that’s pretty cool! Having a gold toilet just speaks level on what your status in life is. However, I think I won’t be buying one even if I am rich
Just seems a bit weird to me. I can think of an awful lot more things i’d Want to buy before I got around to thinking about gilded plumbing
I am amaze in the golden toilet. But I don’t think I can sit there just to poop.