An Oxford court on Friday sentenced two members of a gang that in 2019 stole a £4.75 million ($6.4 million, €5.5 million) artwork, a gold toilet by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, from Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill. Cattelan’s work, titled “America,” had been on display at the palace for only a few days when a five-strong gang entered the palace, forcefully removing the toilet. The toilet was later split up or melted down and sold off.
“America” was made of gold worth about €3.3 million and weighed approximately 98 kilograms (216 pounds). James Sheen, 40, received a four-year sentence to run consecutively with his 19-year and four-month sentence for other crimes while Michael Jones, 39, got a 27-month sentence. Jones was found guilty of reconnaissance at the palace prior to the theft.
Before the incident at Blenheim Palace, the solid-gold toilet, which was functional, had been exhibited at The Guggenheim Museum in New York. It was also offered as a loan to US President Donald Trump shortly after he took office but the White House opted for a Van Gogh painting instead.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/uk-two-jailed-over-gold-toilet-theft-from-blenheim-palace/a-72905728?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
