Golden Toilet Seat: In a world where headlines never fail to surprise, one story is truly turning heads — and it’s all about a toilet seat. But not just any toilet seat — this one is made entirely of 18-carat pure gold and carries a jaw-dropping price tag of around ₹88 crore. Designed by the celebrated Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, this golden throne is set to shine at Sotheby’s auction in New York on November 18.
Golden Toilet Seat: A unique artwork made of gold
This extraordinary toilet seat showcases remarkable craftsmanship and weighs around 223 pounds (roughly 101 kilograms). With a starting bid of $10 million (approximately ₹88 crore), experts predict the final auction price could soar even higher.
From November 8, the golden creation will be displayed in the restroom of Sotheby’s new headquarters, the Breuer Building, where visitors can view it up close. However, organizers have made it clear that the piece is strictly for exhibition — sitting on it is off-limits. As Sotheby’s specialist David Galperin explained, “We want people to appreciate the art, not use it.”
Golden Toilet America Auction: Social Messages Through Art
Maurizio Cattelan designed this piece as a form of social satire, giving it the title “America.” The artist explained that his goal was to create something “incredibly valuable, yet placed in the most ordinary and essential spot.” Through this work, he draws attention to the striking contrast between wealth and necessity — turning gold, a universal symbol of luxury, into the most everyday object imaginable: a toilet.
America Auction Viral Toilet Seat: First displayed in 2016
The golden toilet seat first appeared at the Guggenheim Museum in New York in 2016, where it was remarkably made available for public use. Over 100,000 visitors queued to see — and even experience — this unusual artwork. Many art critics drew parallels between Cattelan’s creation and Marcel Duchamp’s iconic 1917 piece “Fountain,” a defining symbol of the Dada art movement.
Chris Perez’s unique experience
Journalist Chris Perez, who used this golden toilet, shared his experience, saying, “It was one of the most luxurious and smooth experiences of my life.” He also added, “The swirling of the water in the golden bowl was a sight to behold, and the whole experience felt absolutely unique.”
He also became famous for his ‘banana’ art. Maurizio Cattelan has previously been in the news for another bizarre piece of art. He taped a banana to a wall to create a work of art called “Comedian.” This work sold for $6 million (approximately Rs. 50 crore) and went viral on social media.
Also Read: Smoking Ban in Maldives: Maldives bans generational smoking
