Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Buys Cattelan’s Gold Toilet for $12.1 Million
Ripley’s confirmed it buys the gold toilet. The work is named America. Maurizio Cattelan made the piece in 2016. It runs on 18-karat gold. Ripley’s posted the news on Instagram. The sale came soon after a Sotheby’s auction last Tuesday night.
A Unique Artifact in Contemporary Art
Cattelan built America as a working toilet. Gold fills the piece and gives it a high price tag. Two versions exist in total. One version stood at the Guggenheim Museum. Over 100,000 people came to see it there. The work cannot be used while it sits on display. In 2019, an identical version was lost after a theft at Blenheim Palace.
From Billionaire Collectors to Public Exhibition
Steve Cohen, a billionaire and New York Mets owner, sold the piece. He had bought it in 2017 at Marian Goodman Gallery. Sotheby’s auction gathered many buyers. Some even paid with digital coins. Ripley’s now adds this piece to its collection of rare items. The museum plans public visits and leaves open the chance that someone might use the toilet one day.
Digital Trends and Tokenization in the Art World
The sale used old auction methods. Yet the art world adds digital tools. Tokenization and blockchain can change art ownership. These steps may let many people own a part of rare art. The change also fits trends in art and finance, where public access grows.
Reflecting on the Value of Iconoclasm
Cattelan’s gold toilet carries a playful name. It sits in high-end art spaces and makes us think about worth and art. Ripley’s puts it with odd objects that draw attention. The piece makes us reframe ideas on rich art and bold design. The sale brings up new views on art and value.
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📝 About This Article
This article was generated by Hivebox AI in collaboration with AuCan Gold.
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