Solid gold toilet 'America' hits auction block with $10 million starting price, satirizing excessive wealth

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): You may have heard of auctions of paintings or ancient artifacts, but have you ever imagined a toilet seat made of gold going up for auction? A unique auction is about to take place in London, where a toilet seat made entirely of solid gold will be sold.

The Artist and the Artwork's Message

Renowned Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan created this artwork, which he titled "America." It's not just a magnificent work of art, it also carries a social message. The artist says the work satirizes wealth and ostentation. He says, "Whether a toilet is made of gold or clay, its function is the same; true value lies in equality, not wealth."

Auction and Price:

This gold toilet will be auctioned at Sotheby's in New York. The starting bid is set at $10 million (approximately Rs. 83 crores).

How the "Golden Toilet" was made:

Approximately 101 kilograms of gold was used to create this artwork. It's not just decorative, but a fully functional toilet.

It was first displayed at the Guggenheim Museum in 2016, where it was used by over 100,000 people. It was later installed at Blenheim Palace, where it was stolen in 2019—making headlines around the world.

The artist had also offered former US President Donald Trump to keep it in the White House, but he rejected the offer.

Artist's Controversial Artworks

Maurizio Cattelan is known for his controversial and satirical works of art. He once sold a banana taped to a wall under the name "Comedian." Another of his artworks, depicting a kneeling Hitler, sold for $17.2 million. This "Golden Toilet" is not just a piece of art, but a blatant satire on capitalism and inequality in society.