Ripley's Believe It or Not! Acquires Maurizio Cattelan's Gold Toilet for $12.1 Million

Ripley's Believe It or Not! Acquires Maurizio Cattelan's Gold Toilet

Ripley's Believe It or Not! has purchased the second casting of "America," a functional toilet made from solid 18-carat gold, for $12.1 million (£9.3 million) at a Sotheby's auction. The artwork, created by Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan, contains over 15 stone 13 pounds (101.2 kg) of gold.

The original version of "America" was initially installed in a public restroom at the Guggenheim Museum in New York in 2016. It was subsequently exhibited at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. In September 2019, the first gold toilet, valued at £4.8 million, was stolen from the palace by a group of five individuals who gained entry, removed the installation, and fled in a stolen Volkswagen Golf. The incident received international media attention.

In connection with the theft:

• James Sheen, 40, from Oxford, pleaded guilty to burglary and transferring criminal property in 2024 and received a custodial sentence.
• Michael Jones, 39, from Oxford, was convicted of burglary in March and also received a custodial sentence.
• Fred Doe, 36, from Windsor, was convicted of conspiracy to transfer criminal property and received a suspended sentence.

The second iteration of the gold toilet was auctioned by Sotheby's in New York City on a Tuesday. The starting bid for the item was determined by its gold weight, approximately $10 million (£7.6 million). The item received a single bid.

Sotheby's initially identified the buyer as a prominent American brand. Ripley's Believe It or Not!, an entertainment company operating museums of oddities and aquariums globally, later confirmed its purchase through an Instagram post.

Ripley's representatives have stated they are "exploring possibilities" regarding public interaction with the artwork, indicating that such an opportunity would require "serious planning."

The acquisition marks the second-highest price achieved for a Maurizio Cattelan artwork at auction. His sculpture depicting a kneeling Hitler sold for $17.2 million (£11.9 million) in 2016.

Sotheby's described "America" as a "cultural phenomenon" and a "commentary on the collision of artistic production and commodity value." David Galperin, head of contemporary art at Sotheby's New York, characterized it as Cattelan's "tour de force," noting its role in confronting questions about art and the belief systems within the art market and museums.

During the same auction event, a portrait by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt sold for $236.4 million (£179 million), making it the second most expensive artwork ever sold at auction.