Thieves Steal Maurizio Cattelan’s Solid Gold Toilet in an Audacious Heist at Blenheim Palace

British police have arrested a man after burglars stole Maurizio
Cattelan’s solid gold toilet from Blenheim Palace. The conceptual
work of art, reportedly worth around $5 million, is still missing
24 hours after the daring heist, leading to fears that the 18-karat
gold work might be melted down.

A gang of thieves broke into the stately home near Oxford the
night after Cattelan’s America (2016) had
gone on display to the public. Police confirmed in a statement
that the thieves had made their getaway by 4:50 a.m. on Saturday
morning, having removed the high-value, heavy weight, and fully
functioning work of art. It had been plumbed into the water closet
once used by Winston Churchill.

The audacious theft will also cause red faces at Blenheim Palace
and the Blenheim Art Foundation, which organized the Italian
artist’s first solo show in the UK. Cattelan corrected speculation
that the theft was a hoax. “I wish it was a prank,” he told the
New York Times, adding that the robbery is “deadly serious
if even a little bit surreal.”

The chief executive of Blenheim Palace, Dominic Hare, said in a
statement: “We hope against hope” that America can be
recovered.

Thames Valley Police confirmed that a 66-year-old man has been
arrested in connection with the theft, and that he remains in
custody. In a statement, Blenheim Palace said that it was relieved
that no one was hurt during the robbery. The thieves did cause
significant flooding when they removed toilet, however, and
Blenheim Palace remained shut yesterday, September 14. It is due to
reopen today.

The thieves would have had the past six months to plan the
robbery as the arrival of Cattelan’s America, the
highlight of the exhibition, “Victory Is Not an Option,” was
first announced in May. This has increased fears that the sculpture
could be melted down. The gang used two vehicles to carry out
the robbery, and remove the heavy toilet.

Ahead of Cattelan’s exhibition, Edward Spencer-Churchill, who is
the founder of the Blenheim Art Foundation, appeared relaxed about
the risks of borrowing such a valuable work of art. He told The
Sunday Times newspaper the America would not be “the
easiest thing to nick.”

A spokesperson for the art foundation declined to say whether
the piece was commercially insured. Blenheim Palace’s security
would have had met national art museum standards to qualify for the
UK government indemnity scheme.

Cattelan’s exhibition is the latest in a series of annual
installations by leading artists at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace
of Winston Churchill, and home of the dukes of Marlborough since
the 18th century.  Previous exhibitions have included solo
shows by Jenny Holzer, Ai Weiwei, and Yves Klein, but none have
generated the level of publicity caused by the theft of the Italian
artist’s gold toilet.

Blenheim CEO Dominic Hare drew cold comfort from the theft,
saying in his statement: “We hope that the wonderful work of our
dear friend Maurizio Cattelan becomes immortalized by this stupid
and pointless act.”

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in an Audacious Heist at Blenheim Palace appeared first on
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