"Now, the new owner of the 18-karat gold, fully functional toilet has revealed itself: Ripley's Believe It or Not!, a US franchise dedicated to the bizarre and strange. Ripley's operates aquariums, resorts, theme parks and museums it calls "Odditoriums", filled with artefacts from founder Robert L. Ripley's collection, wax statues of celebrities and historical figures, and more. The company also publishes books and produces programmes like television shows."
"America was reportedly consigned to Sotheby's by the billionaire collector, Museum of Modern Art trustee and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen. It is the last surviving edition of the work. Another edition had been installed at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, where more than 100,000 visitors used it during its year-long run. That piece was later stolen in 2019, just two days after going on display at Blenheim Palace in the UK. Two men were convicted in relation to the heist earlier this year, and investigators believe that edition of America was ultimately melted down and destroyed."
Sotheby's sold Maurizio Cattelan's 18-karat gold, fully functional toilet America for $10 million (total $12.1m with fees) to Ripley's Believe It or Not. Ripley's runs Odditoriums, aquariums, resorts, theme parks, publishes books and produces television programmes. The work was reportedly consigned by collector and MoMA trustee Steve Cohen and is the last surviving edition. A previous edition was installed at the Guggenheim in New York and was used by more than 100,000 visitors during its year-long run. That edition was stolen in 2019 at Blenheim Palace and is believed to have been melted down. Ripley's plans to display the acquired sculpture and is exploring whether the public will be allowed to use it.
Read at The Art Newspaper - International art news and events
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