06-06-2025
Sotheby’s International Realty Leads the Industry Once Again
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By Sotheby’s International Realty |
19-11-2025
A fully functional toilet made entirely of 18-karat gold, weighing 223 pounds and titled “America,” was sold for an astounding $12.1 million at a Sotheby’s auction in New York.
Created by the provocative artist Maurizio Cattelan, known for his controversial works such as duct-taping a banana to a wall, the toilet had an initial bid of $10 million, reflecting the value of the precious metal. Designed to mock excessive wealth in the United States, the toilet operates like any regular one and was previously installed at Sotheby’s New York new headquarters for public viewing before the auction.
Maurizio Cattelan, America, 2016. Credit: Sotheby's
However, visitors were not allowed to use it during the display, despite it being functional. Cattelan humorously remarked on the universality of its purpose, stating, “Whatever you eat, a $200 lunch or a $2 hot dog, the results are the same, toilet-wise.” Sotheby’s expert David Galperin emphasized that the piece was treated as art, ensuring it remained untouched by visitors. “And we don’t want people sitting on the art,” he said.
