Cattelan's Golden Toilet Sells for $12.1 Million in a Muted Auction

2 hours ago7 min read

Maurizio Cattelan's fully functional 18-karat gold toilet, 'America,' sold for $12. 1 million at a recent Sotheby's auction, a result that fell short of the blockbuster status many anticipated.The final moment of the sale was marked by a protracted, awkward silence as the auctioneer's calls for a higher bid went unanswered, underscoring a market hesitation toward the work's provocative blend of satire and luxury. Cattelan, renowned for his confrontational art, created 'America' as a scathing commentary on wealth inequality, once inviting Guggenheim Museum visitors to use it.Its history, including a headline-grabbing theft from Blenheim Palace that remains unsolved, adds a layer of notoriety to its narrative. Yet, this failed to translate into a record-breaking price. The sale's outcome suggests a limit to the art world's appetite for high-stakes provocation, positioning the golden toilet not as a triumphant market sensation, but as a symbol of a critique that became a costly, and perhaps overly real, proposition for collectors.

#Maurizio Cattelan

#America

#golden toilet

#art auction

#Sotheby's

#contemporary art

#featured

#$12.1 million

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