"A toilet is making headlines. The reason? It's made of solid 18-carat gold and is being auctioned at Sotheby's on November 18, with a starting bid of around $10 million (8.6 miilion). The fully functional toilet was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan also known for his duct-taped banana, which sold for $6.2 million at auction in 2024. Described as a commentary on excessive wealth, the artwork's name is also fitting for the current US president: "America.""
"From the gold bric-a-brac adorning the Oval Office mantelpiece to the gold faucets and fixtures in the newly renovated Lincoln bathroom to the golden cursive signage popping up on walls and entrances, Donald Trump can't seem to get enough of the shiny yellow stuff. Donald Trump replaced plants on the Oval Office mantelpiece with gold ornaments early in his second termImage: Yuri Gripas/abaca/picture alliance While his style choices are questionable, his apparent obsession with gold has deep historic and cultural roots."
A solid 18-carat gold, fully functional toilet named 'America' by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan will be auctioned at Sotheby's on November 18 with a starting bid around $10 million. The piece, created by the artist known for a duct-taped banana, is described as a commentary on excessive wealth. The White House has seen a surge in gold decor including mantelpiece ornaments, faucets, fixtures, and signage under Donald Trump. Gold has been valued across civilizations for millennia and ancient finds like the Varna gold and Mapungubwe artifacts indicate its long-standing association with status, power, and social hierarchies.
Read at www.dw.com
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