A tourist was caught-on-camera crushing a Swarovski crystal-encrusted chair inside a Italian museum – then leaving.
The Palazzo Maffei in Verona took to social media to disclose the tourist’s actions as they were caught sitting on the chair, causing it to break and fall on the ground.
“The museum’s nightmare has come true, even at Palazzo Maffei,” the museum posted on their Facebook page, with the surveillance video attached.
“What you witnessed would be laughable if it hadn’t, regrettably, actually happened,” a museum worker comments in the video.
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The museum noted that the tourists waited for security to depart before taking their actions and capturing the moment on camera.
The chair was noted to be “extremely fragile.”
“An irresponsible act caused significant damage to Nicola Bolla’s ‘Van Gogh’ chair, a very delicate piece, entirely adorned with hundreds of Swarovski crystals,” the museum stated.
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Two tourists look on in horror after damaging priceless artwork at an Italy museum. (Palazzo Maffei Verona via Facebook)
The museum was uncertain for several days whether they would be able to restore the chair.
“We were truly worried it might not be possible to restore it,” stated the museum.
Museum workers managed to restore the damaged artwork a few days after the tourist incident. (Palazzo Maffei Verona via Facebook)
However, thanks to the work of multiple individuals, the museum announced that they managed to successfully save the artwork.
“Heartfelt thanks go to the police, our security team, and the restorers, whose valuable efforts allowed for the recovery of the work,” the museum announced.
“We share this incident not only for the record, but to initiate a campaign raising awareness about the value of art and the respect it deserves.”
It remains unclear how much was spent on repairing the display. It is also unclear if the culprits were identified or if punishment will be enforced.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, and more. Suggestions and story ideas can be directed to stepheny.price@fox.com
