- The toilet titled ‘America’ was created in 2016 by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and installed at the palace
- Burglars stole the 18-carat gold lavatory and the toilet remains missing with a man, 66, arrested in connection
- The palace tweeted it would be closed today ‘due to an unforeseen incident’ but the Park would remain open
- Thames Valley Police confirmed the toilet was stolen and a group of offenders used at least two vehicle
A solid 18-carat gold toilet, worth £1 million, was stolen from Blenheim Palace in the early hours of this morning and remains missing.
The golden lavatory went on display two days ago and was designed by controversial Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.
It was installed as part of a new exhibition at the Oxfordshire palace, the birthplace of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
Visitors to Blenheim Palace were able to use the million-pound toilet and were allocated a strict three-minute time slot.
Thames Valley Police confirmed the toilet was stolen and a 66-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the theft and remains in police custody.
The solid 18 carat gold toilet from Bleinheim Palace, Oxfordshire, worth £1 million. It was reportedly stolen in the early hours of this morning and later recovered
The golden lavatory titled ‘America’ was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan. The toilet was created for the Guggenheim Museum in New York (pictured), where more than 100,000 people queued to use the security-guarded loo
Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire tweeted that the palace would be closed today ‘due to an unforeseen incident’ but the Park would remain open
Detective Inspector Jess Milne said: ‘The piece of art that has been stolen is a high value toilet made out of gold that was on display at the palace.’
On Twitter Blenheim Palace announced that it would be closed today and said: ‘Due to an unforeseen incident at the Palace we are closed until lunchtime, the Park will remain open. Apologies for any inconvenience.’
A site design company for the Palace, EventSiteDesign, tweeted this morning: ‘We’ve had some drama overnight which I won’t elaborate on just yet but it has meant we need to redirect our contractor traffic for the day.’
The fully-functioning solid gold toilet was created by Cattelan for the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, where more than 100,000 people queued to use the security-guarded loo.
After more than 20 years Cattelan has put on his first solo show in Britain at the iconic palace.
His most controversial works have been placed in and around Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire to engage and contrast with its unique history.
The pieces also include his famous taxidermy horse ‘Novecento’ suspended from the ceiling of one of the portrait rooms, a model of a schoolboy version of Adolf Hitler on his knees praying and a realistic model of Pope John Paul II being hit by a meteorite.
Thames Valley Police said the offenders broke into the palace overnight and left the scene at about 4.50am.
There was no injuries during the burglary.
Detective Inspector Jess Milne said: ‘Due to the toilet being plumbed in to the building, this has caused significant damage and flooding.’
Detective Inspector Milne added: ‘We believe a group offenders used at least two vehicles during the offence.
‘The artwork has not been recovered at this time but we are conducting a thorough investigation to find it and bring those responsible to justice.
She continued: ‘Residents will see an increased police presence in the area while officers and staff carry out enquiries.’
Him, is a realistic model of a schoolboy version of Adolf Hitler on his knees praying. It has been placed in the organ room at Blenheim for visitors to see for themselves. The controversial work is one of many on show at Blenheim this autumn
‘La Nona Ora’, translated as ‘the ninth hour’ is the name given to Cattelan’s realistic model of Pope John Paul II being hit by a meteorite. It is one of many controversial pieces placed in and around Blenheim Palace this autumn
A Blenheim Palace visitor is pictured walking past ‘Ego’, Cattelan’s taxidermy crocodile, which has been suspended from the ceiling of one of the portrait rooms in the Oxfordshire manor house
‘We’ is a life-sized double bed, with two realistic models of Maurizio Cattelan lying on top. Short for ‘We Are The Revolution’, the work is now available for the public to see inside Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill
‘Daddy Daddy’ is a large model of the Disney character Pinocchio half submerged in a lake in the grounds at Blenheim. It is designed to look as though he is drowning. It is captured as a rainbow forms above him
Blenheim Palace tweeted that the palace would be closed ‘due to an unforeseen incident’ and apologised for any inconvenience caused
‘Glory Glory Hallelujah’ is another fascinating Cattelan piece on display at Blenheim, made up of three horse skulls wearing gold armour
‘Untitled’ is Cattelan’s miniature replica of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, Vatican City. The Italian artist’s version has been placed inside Blenheim Palace as part of his new exhibition
‘Others’ is an installation of 200 taxidermy birds created by Cattelan. They have been arranged on a marble statue inside Blenheim Palace as part of his first UK solo art show in more than 20 years
‘I am appealing to anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the area to contact police.
‘You can call us on 101, quoting URN 273 (14/9), visit our website or visit a police station.’
Thames Valley Police said they received a report of the burglary at Blenheim Palace at 4.57am.
source:dailymail