Sotheby's auction
Gold Toilet "America" Sells for $12.1 Million While Klimt Portrait Sets $236 Million Modern Art Record
Nov 19, 2025 02:50 pm CST
A solid gold functional toilet titled "America" by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan sold for $12.1 million at Sotheby's New York auction, where Gustav Klimt's portrait also broke records at $236 million. The 18-karat gold commode weighing 223 pounds serves as satirical commentary on extreme wealth, continuing to fascinate the art world after its counterpart was infamously stolen from Blenheim Palace.
Solid Gold Toilet "America" Heads to Auction with $10 Million Starting Bid
Nov 01, 2025 09:08 am CST
Sotheby's is auctioning Maurizio Cattelan's solid gold toilet sculpture "America" on November 18, with bidding starting at $10 million. This fully functional 223-pound gold lavatory, identical to one stolen from Blenheim Palace in 2019, represents a provocative commentary on wealth and artistic value. Previously displayed at the Guggenheim Museum where thousands interacted with it, the piece will be exhibited but not available for use at Sotheby's new Breuer Building headquarters.