UK police have achieved a significant breakthrough in the case of the stolen golden toilet sculpture by Maurizio Cattelan, which was taken from Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire around four years ago. A gang of seven individuals had stolen the fully functioning toilet made of solid gold, causing water damage to an adjacent wood-paneled lavatory. Although several arrests were made over the years, no charges have been filed so far.
The police's ongoing investigation has led to the submission of a case file to the Crown Prosecution Service, raising hopes of finally resolving the matter. However, there's doubt regarding the return of the $6 million, 196-pound golden toilet titled "America." Law enforcement authorities are cautious about its recovery, speculating that it might have been disposed of or altered in form due to its substantial gold content.
Matthew Barber, the police and crime commissioner for the Thames Valley, expressed skepticism about retrieving the toilet in its original state due to the challenges posed by its value and composition. Scotland Yard's Charlie Hill, an art detective known for recovering stolen artwork, shared a similar view, suggesting the toilet could have been disassembled, melted down, and repurposed into jewelry.
The golden toilet, made of 18-carat gold and named "America," had been exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum in 2016. Visitors were allowed to use it in a private bathroom setting. The toilet garnered attention as a symbol of extravagance and was even offered to former President Donald Trump after he was denied permission to borrow a Van Gogh painting from the museum.
Jean Dubreil