Two years ago, a gold toilet was offered to Donald Trump by the Guggenheim made worldwide headlines. Recently, the gold toilet hit headlines again after it has gone missing from Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of former British prime minister Winston Churchill.

Donald Trump

Maurizio Cattelan's America

Titled America, the 18-karat solid gold toilet is an interactive work created by contemporary artist Maurizio Cattelan. The fully functioning toilet attracted over one hundred thousand waited patiently in line for the opportunity to commune with art and with nature. This work satirizes the ever-increasing divide in the country between the wealthy and the poor.

Maurizio Cattelan

Since September 15, 2016, America was installed in a public restroom on the museum's fifth floor for visitors to use. The fully functioning toilet attracted over one hundred thousand waited patiently in line for the opportunity to commune with art and with nature.

It made headlines in 2018 when Nancy Spector, the Guggenheim’s chief curator, had got a request from the White House asking for a loan of Vincent van Gogh's 1888 Landscape with Snow. Instead of accommodating the request, she offered the 18-karat solid gold toilet. The White House declined the offer.

Blenheim Palace

Last week, Blenheim Palace reported the theft of the toilet, valued at around US$6m, which was installed as part of an exhibition titled Victory is Not an Option. A 66-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the theft.

Detective Inspector said in the statement: "Due to the toilet being plumbed in to the building, this has caused significant damage and flooding." The artwork has not been recovered at the moment.

Responding to the claim that the theft was a stunt, Maurizio Cattelan denied that he orchestrated the theft and he wrote in an email to The New York Times: “I wish it was a prank.”